"Really happy with the way we fielded": Harmanpreet Kaur after India's dominant 64-run win over Pakistan in T20 WC
Birmingham, June 14
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur expressed delight after India's convincing win over Pakistan in the ongoing women's T20 World Cup, thanking the fans for their support and praising the contributions of key performers Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma.
She also lauded wicketkeeper/batter Richa Ghosh for playing her role perfectly despite her attacking instincts, highlighting the importance of team balance.
Kaur credited India's sharp fielding and ability to hold catches as a crucial factor behind the victory, while stressing that every group-stage match is vital in a tournament as competitive as the Women's T20 World Cup.
A majestic five-wicket haul from Deepti Sharma buoyed India to a commanding 64-run victory over the arch-rivals Pakistan in their T20 World Cup opening fixture on Sunday in Birmingham.
"Very happy. Want to thank the Indian fans first. They're (Smriti and Deepti) always there to push the team. (On Richa) I would love to send her the first ball, but she has a role to play. I'm really happy with how she played. If you take all the catches, you win matches. Really happy with the way we fielded. Every league game is important," Kaur said after the match.
Earlier, Mandhana scored a sublime fifty, while Richa Ghosh played a terrific cameo as India posted 170 for 6 in 20 overs after opting to bat first. Mandhana hit 68 off 44 balls, with the help of nine fours and two sixes, while Richa hit 34 off 17.
In reply, Pakistan crashed for 106 in 17 overs, handing India a commanding 64-run victory.
— ANI
Reader Comments
What a performance! The way Richa played was exactly what we needed - she showed great maturity to play according to the team's needs. Harmanpreet's captaincy was spot on too. This win will boost the team's confidence massively for the rest of the tournament! 💪
Great to see the Indian women's team dominating like this. The fielding was a huge improvement - dropped catches have cost us before. Every league match is indeed crucial in a T20 tournament, and starting with a big win sets the right momentum. Well played! 👍
Though it was a convincing win, we should be careful not to get overconfident. The middle order still needs to step up - we can't always rely on Mandhana and Deepti to bail us out against stronger teams. But credit where it's due, today was a complete performance! 👌
Absolutely brilliant! The way Smriti took the attack to Pakistan from ball one set the tone. And Deepti is such a smart bowler - she knows exactly when to flight it and when to pull it back. This is the kind of cricket we need to see more often from our women's team! 🏏🌟
So happy to see the team clicking together. Harmanpreet's leadership is really bringing out the best in everyone. The supporters in Birmingham must have loved this performance! Now we need to carry this momentum forward - especially against Australia and England.
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