‘I’ve always enjoyed batting’

Mithali and Deepti Sharma’s 118-run third-wicket partnership led the way as India registered its fourth consecutive win in the prestigious 50-over tournament with a victory over Sri Lanka at Derby. Raj (53) plundered four boundaries to record her 48th ODI half-century, as youngster Sharma (78) excelled at the crease for her sixth. 

Two back-to-back wickets saw Sri Lanka stunt their opposition’s growing total as India set a target of 233, but early wickets for Jhulan Goswami and Poonam set the tone for their chase. 

“In the middle overs we pulled ourselves and the dot balls pushed them to score in the end,” Mithali said. “Overall, our spinners did quite well. Cricket has evolved over the years because now we need to have more all-rounders, with bowlers who can bat in the slog overs and batsmen who can pick some wickets.

I’ve always enjoyed batting and stepping up when it’s required,” she added. Talking about her form with the bat, she said that the players around her helps her play freely. 

“I’m blessed to have the kind of openers and I can play probably a bit of my own game which I’ve had to hold up because of the kind of the responsibility I’ve had over the years,” she said. 

The Indian captain said that early breakthroughs help when you are defending a low score. “It helps when you get those early breakthroughs at the start of the innings, today Jhulan gave the first wicket and then the spinners came in,” Mithali noted. 

Before signing off, she said she would like to bowl in one of the matches as well. “I thought I might bowl the last over today. But the margin was too less for a bowler like me. Maybe if the margin is too big for the opposition, I might roll my arm,” she said. 

After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Smriti Mandhana brought up her 200th run of the tournament with the opening boundary knock of the match before being caught out for eight by Shashikala Siriwardena. A disciplined Sri Lanka outfield made for tough work for the Indian batters, but Raj and Sharma steadily chipped away at the runs. 

Expressing her appointment over the defeat, Sri Lanka skipper Inoka Ranaweera admitted that her side made a lot of mistakes during the match. 

“We have had good matches against India, so I’m disappointed about our performance, but we hope to do our best in the next game. We made a lot of mistakes. Weerakkody bowled really well today,” Ranaweera said. 

Sri Lanka’s innings didn’t get off to the best start as Mandhana juggled a catch to see an early Hasini Perera departure. It was an uphill battle for the chasers from then on in as Nipuni Hansika followed her team’s talisman from the wicket as Sri Lanka struggled to cope with Yadav’s sublime deliveries. 

Sri Lanka’s wickets continued to fall, and despite Manodara’s half-century, their slow start on the crease ultimately proved costly.