Snehasis Mukherjee in Visakhapatnam
The Indian women’s team finally produced a strong batting performance in the ongoing ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, posting a competitive 330 against Australia in Vizag.
The day began on a special note with the unveiling of the ‘Mithali Raj Stand’ and the ‘Raavi Kalpana Gate’. Former India women’s team skipper Mithali Raj attended the ceremony, along with the ICC chairman Jay Shah and other dignitaries, her parents, and family members. Former wicketkeeper Raavi Kalpana was also present with her loved ones for the inauguration of the gate named in her honour.
India made a bright and steady start through openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal. Both found gaps and kept the scoreboard moving. The pair added 155 runs for the first wicket, giving India their best start of the tournament.
Smriti looked to be in fine touch, finding rhythm after a quiet start to the campaign. She brought up a fluent fifty and went on to score 80 off 66 balls before falling just as she looked set for more. Pratika, who anchored the innings beautifully, scored 75 off 96 but missed out on a hundred.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur once again got a good start, playing a few delightful strokes, but she couldn’t convert it into a big one. She was dismissed by Megan Schutt for 22 off 17 balls. Soon after, Harleen Deol fell for 38, and from 234/2, India suddenly slipped to 240/4.
Richa Ghosh, continuing her fine form, came in with her trademark intent. Her quick 32 off 22 balls included some powerful hits, as she and Jemimah Rodrigues added a brisk 54-run stand. However, her aggression brought her downfall — a slower one from Annabel Sutherland was mistimed, and she was caught by substitute fielder Georgia Wareham.
Sutherland kept striking with her clever variations. She dismissed Jemimah for 33 off 21 and then added Kranti Gaud and N Shree Charani to complete a brilliant five-wicket haul for 40 runs.
India looked set for a 350-plus total at one stage, but stumbled towards the back end of their innings. From 309/5, they lost their last five wickets for just 21 runs, finishing 330 all out.
With dew expected to play a big role under lights, India could feel they are 15–20 runs short of the ideal total.
Will that collapse shift the momentum towards the Aussies heading into the chase? The answer will unfold under the Vizag night sky.
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