WOMEN'S WC - ROUND UP
Follow UsThe Women’s ODI World Cup 2022, kicked off on a great note after West Indies Women won a thriller in the first game of the tournament against the hosts New Zealand.
Apart from India and South Africa, the remaining six teams have played two matches each. Australia and West Indies have won both their encounters. New Zealand, after their loss against West Indies in the curtain raiser, won with ease against Bangladesh.
Astonishingly, England women have lost both their encounters, one against Australia and another against West Indies. Bangladesh and Pakistan also have lost both their encounters. Australia with a better net run rate (1.061) are at the top of the table. India won their encounter against Pakistan comprehensively. As for South Africa, they had a hiccup, but they overcame it against Bangladesh in their only match.
There have been plenty of moments in this year’s tournament so far and here are few of those:
Gutsy decisions saw West Indies snatch victory from jaws of defeat
On the back of a stupendous century by Haley Matthews, West Indies had put on 259 for nine on board batting first. Despite numerous catch drops, West Indies registered a win by three runs and negated Sophie Devine's threat.
The credit all goes to the experienced Deandra Dottin. Bowling her first over since September 2021 and that too in the last over of the innings defending just six runs. She dismissed the dangerous Katey Martin in her second ball for 44. Then she dismissed Jess Kerr who was batting on 25, in the fourth ball and followed it by a run-out in the fifth ball. Bowling her first over after eight innings, Dottin denied a win and also registered West Indies women’s first win in New Zealand.
Against England, they were in a similar situation. With two wickets in hand, England needed nine runs of 18 balls at the start of the 48th over. Sophie Ecclestone drove a ball straight to Anisa Mohammed and she dropped it but the ball went on to hit the stumps and Kate Cross was short at the non-striker’s end. In the fourth ball, she dismissed Anya Shrubsole and won another nail biter
Alana King’s special ball, in remembrance of Warne
4th March 2022, a devastating day for the cricketing world as the legendary leg spinner Shane Warne, passed away at the age of 52. As the world was mourning his death, Alana King, who was inspired by the legend and picked up leg-spin as her specialization, dismissed Beaumont with an absolute pearl.
For England and Australia, their opening encounters in the WC were against each other. Thanks to a ton by Rachael Haynes and skipper Meg Lanning’s 86, Australia posted a mammoth total of 310. In reply, England’s opener Tammy Beaumont, batting on 74, looked to come down the track and whip it through mid-wicket against King. However, she was undone by the drift and turn and was left hanging down the pitch.
Pakistan bulldozed by India and Australia, but Bismah “the mother” won hearts
In their campaign so far, all they have suffered is loss on the cricketing field. However, outside, the skipper Bismah Maroof, has been winning hearts. After delivering a baby girl, the Pakistan stalwart was in the World Cup squad and was entering the venue with her baby on her shoulder and her cricket kit on the baby’s cradle.
In their first match, against the arch rivals, Maroof couldn’t contribute much and they suffered a demoralizing defeat by 107 runs. More than that, Pakistan’s 100 percent loss record against India in ODIs was intact (11 out of 11). However, what happened after the match is what won the internet and social media. Indian players in a huddle, centering Maroof and Fathima (daughter), were playing with the kid and ended it with a selfie.
But, in her second match against Australia, Maroof got to her fifty and then came the “baby swing” celebration. The skipper scored a well-constructed 78 off 122 balls that helped them reach to a score of 190/6. However, Australia easily chased it down with seven wickets and 92 balls to spare.
Dottin pulls off a stunner at point
There might have been some exceptional catches in cricket, Dottin’s catch at point against England is the new addition and probably from the top draw.
Lauren Winfield-Hill, went for a full-blooded cut against Shamilia Connell. Diving to her left at full-stretch, Dotting extended her left arm to hold on to a screamer.
Jhulan Goswami scripts history
One of the legends in the history of women's cricket, Jhulan Goswami, entered the record books as the right-arm pacer equaled the record of Lyn Fullston for most wickets in the Women's World Cup.
Bowling the final over of the innings, the veteran pacer produced a well-directed yorker to rattle the stumps of Katey Martin to achieve this remarkable feat. While her team members were in absolute delight after the wicket, Martin's gesture of a fist-pump made the fans applaud her sporting nature.
Acknowledging the skills on display, the right-handed batter nodded in appreciation before walking off the field for a well-compiled 41 off 51 deliveries.
