Shikha Pandey, India, Australia, Women's T20 World Cup
Shikha Pandey, (Image Courtesy : The Indian Express via PTI Photo/Mitesh Bhuvad)

The Indian women’s team received high praise for the way they competed in the T20 World Cup in Australia. The women in blue fell one step short of clinching the title as hosts Australia beat them comprehensively in the final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Even as they were unsuccessful, pacer Shikha Pandey received felicitations from Air Marshal MGS Menon for her performances during the competition.

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The right-arm medium pacer was amongst the highest wicket-takers in the entire tournament. In five matches, Shikha bagged seven wickets at an average of 19.42. During these five fixtures, she had an economy rate of 6.85 and maintained a strike rate of 17. Although in the final, the 30-year old was India’s most expensive bowler, conceding 52 runs in four overs without any wickets, the stats mentioned above were enough to get complimented. Shikha’s strongest suit appear to be ODIs in which she has taken 73 wickets in only 52 matches at 21.06. In 50 T20Is, she has 36 wickets at 24.91.

Shikha Pandey Gets Felicitated For Her Performances In Women's T20 World Cup
Shikha Pandey gets felicitated. (Credits: News18.com)

Her performance in the first game of the edition against Australia in Sydney was her best in which she took three wickets for 14 runs. The Australians ran riot in the final against the sub-continent nation. Half-centuries from Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney set up a total of 184 for India to chase at a jampacked MCG after opting to bat first.

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In reply, India never looked comfortable in the chase. Shafali Verma in the third over of their innings. Eventually, Australia routed them for 99 to lift their fifth T20 trophy and the first in front of the home crowd. For India, Deepti Verma was their top run-scorer with 33.

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