Poonam Yadav
Poonam Yadav (R) (Credits: Twitter)

India women’s team started their campaign in the T20 World Cup in grand style as they defeated hosts and favourites Australia by 17 runs in the tournament-opener. Spinners Poonam Yadav, Shikha Pandey and wicketkeeper Taniya Bhatia starred as the Women in Blue stunned the home side.

Asked to bat first, India posted a modest total of 132 for 4 in the allotted 20 overs. Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana gave India a flying start by slamming 41 runs in just four overs before Australia took command by taking three quick wickets and reducing India to 47 for 3.

With both the openers and captain Harmanpreet Kaur back in the hut, India had their back against the wall. But before Australia could further make things tough for India, Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Verma added 53 runs for the fourth wicket to steady the ship. Jemimah was out for 26 but Verma remained unbeaten on 49 to take India to a good total.

In reply, Australia were all out just 115. Alyssa Healy returned to form and scored a fine fifty at the top of the order but her teammates failed to do well. Barring Healy and Ashleigh Gardner (34), no other Aussie could touch the double-digit mark as India registered a thumping win.

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For India, Poonam Yadav starred with the ball as she picked up four wickets for 19 runs. On the other hand, Sikha Yadav picked up 3 for 14. Taniya Bhatia also impressed behind the wickets as she took two catches and effected as many stumping.

Brilliant stumping:

In the 12th over of the match, Poonam Yadav picked up two wickets in two balls including the prized scalp of Ellyse Perry. On the third ball of the over, she dismissed Rachael Haynes before getting rid of Perry on the very next ball. Well, Taniya Bhatia should also get some credits for the dismissal of Haynes as she pulled off a brilliant stumping.

Haynes failed to read a google from Poonam and to make things worse, she had also left the crease. And even before she could think of getting back to the crease, Taniya Bhatia collected the ball and took the bails off in a flash.

Here is a clip of that stumping from Taniya Bhatia: