Shafali vs Ismail, a battle that warrants a popcorn

You look at Shafali Verma; you have a clear idea of how she wants to bat. 

And then at the other end is Shabnim Ismail. She’s adamant that she wouldn’t leave the tournament without breaching the 130 kmph. 

That’s a dream for several players but not for Ismail, who was hell-bent on pushing the engines to the tilt. Two players of the same ilk. 

Both want to silence the other. If Shafali’s idea of silencing is hitting sixes, Ismail’s idea is hitting the timber. And when these two met for the first time this year, it was Ismail who had her tail up. Shafali was silenced. 

It was 1-0 to Ismail. 

It wasn’t certainly a one-off incident; it was a duel that spanned over 48 deliveries in Women's T20s where even the most aggressive of batters, Shafali, could only score 52 runs. The more important part: Shafali was dismissed FOUR TIMES. It was the joint-most for any bowler, averaging just 13. 

Ismail has not just had a wood over her but also managed to silence one of the most attacking players in the tournament, with 31 dot balls in all T20s. 

Shuuuush!!!!

All the build-up for this clash wasn’t going to be any different. Ismail returned after a two-game absence. So, it was sure as daylight that she would channel all her energy into getting an upper hand over Shafali. 

Shafali, though, had other ideas, driving her in the most aesthetically pleasing manner through the cover for a four. When did you last see the right-hander play such an aesthetic shot? Perhaps you don’t recall because her game is all about brute force. 

When she faced her next time around, there were another four. This time, a tickle past the fine leg for some easy picking. And then, the THUD. Ismail’s worst nightmare is a drop catch. Saika Ishaque tried her best not to look at Ismail, and Ismail did her best not to curse at Ishaque. 

She took that frustration on her own self, mumbling under her jersey with the choicest of words. Your guess is as good as mine, and both our guesses could very well be true. 

Ismail is steaming (literally and figuratively). 

Shafali makes her day worse. She tonks a ball over her head for a massive six. Any other shot might not have irked Ismail as much, but this one? THE ONE OVER YOUR HEAD? That would have broken Ismail from the inside. One more. This time, there was not even a proper connection. Oh Ismail might just well be giving a mouthful to her luck here. 

22 runs off just seven deliveries, the Indian opener has never seen such a day against Ismail, never in her T20 career. Just when she was looking to make merry, Ismail had the last laugh and even had the last word (swear). FIVE TIMES, the most dismissals against any bowler. 

And the memorable words were “**** off.” 

None could entertain you if this duel wasn’t the most captivating.