IND-W vs ENG-W: Harmanpreet Kaur Says India Played 'Forcefully' In Wet Conditions That Were 'Not 100%'

Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain of India, believes that the team “forcefully performed” in the wet circumstances of the first Twenty20 International against England at Chester-le-Street, when play was postponed due to rain earlier in the day.

India was given the opportunity to bat, but they failed to make a significant score since England’s spinners limited them to 132 for 7. The pitch wasn’t good for strokeplay, and the moisture made the outfield slow and a little slippery.

We Were Not Able To Get That Many Runs We Were Expecting: Harmanpreet Kaur

During the chase, India also struggled to field, missing catches and misplaying balls to allow them to reach the boundary.

“I think in the end we were not able to get that many runs we were expecting,” Harmanpreet Kaur said after the match.

“I just feel today we forcefully played because it was not 100% conditions for cricket to play. Still I am happy the way girls put the effort because when there are chances to get injured but they are ready to play.

“That’s what you need to have team-mates in the team [for] who can score in whatever conditions and I am happy the way we put our efforts.”

Only Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet, and Deepti Sharma were able to score 20 runs or more as legspinner Sarah Glenn (4 for 23), offspinner Bryony Smith, and left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone had the batters in a tangle. Five of the seven Indian wickets were taken by Glenn and Smith.

Three of Mandhana’s four fours came from using the additional speed that Lauren Bell, a T20I rookie, provided early on. The ball held up on the surface and occasionally stayed low as well, though, when the velocity was reduced. The firing of Harmanpreet serves as a prime example.

Although she was able to get going quite fast, when she attempted to come down the track to hit through the line of a delivery that Glenn landed on a length, it stayed low to strike off stump. Before leaving, Harmanpreet could do nothing except look at the ground and her companion.

Radha Yadav’s Injury Cost Us: Harmanpreet Kaur

Radha Yadav appeared to have banged her shoulder into the ground during the second over of the chase when she dove to her left at a backward point. She exited the field clutching her shoulder in discomfort.

Sophia Dunkley and Alice Capsey took advantage of further instances of fielders in the deep either overrunning the ball or slipping to enable the ball past to finish the nine-wicket victory.

“I know it was not 100% conditions to play cricket and still we were putting efforts,” Harmanpreet Kaur said.

“I know the ground was too wet and there were so many chances to get injured and one of our players got injured also. She was our main bowler and that’s why we were lacking.”

For India’s bowling innings without Radha, Harmanpreet Kaur employed Shafali Verma and herself, and those two overs totalled 28. In the lack of a left-arm spinner like Radha who could move the ball away from England’s right-handed hitters, she also had to utilise more of Deepti and Sneh Rana’s offspin.

“We were one bowler short and the way we were trying to put efforts [meant a lot],” she said. “I am really happy girls were coming forward to give 100%.”

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