Smriti Mandhana’s smile was broader than Shafali Verma’s.
And Smriti wasn’t there in her usual place, the non-striker’s end, while Shafali bats. She was in the dugout. But it was Shafali who scored a hundred — a sensational hundred it was, too — against Bangladesh in the semifinal of women’s cricket in the Asian Games at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on Sunday.
Smriti rose from her seat and applauded, along with her Indian teammates. Shafali had just scored a single off Shorna Akter through the off-side. It was the last ball of the Indian innings. She took off her helmet, was hugged by her partner Bharti Fulmali, and raised her bat, acknowledging the cheers. They were totally dominant and utterly ruthless just as Shafali was against those hapless and helpless Bangladesh bowlers. “It is so satisfying to see everyone approach every game with such a positive mindset. Every single player who got an opportunity stepped up and delivered solid performances.
Shafali’s unbeaten 100 off 49 balls would sum up how the Women in Blue played their cricket over the last three weeks in two tournaments – the Asian Cup in Dubai and then the Asian Games.
“Before the tournament, we talked a lot about staying unbeaten, but more importantly, about playing to the high standards we set for ourselves,” the skipper said after winning the gold at the Asian Games.
Kranti is a special talent, and India isn’t blessed with as many quality options in pace as it is in spin. So the way Nandani Sharma has bowled at the Asian Cup and the Asian Games should gladden the team management. She is a clever, wicket-taking bowler and offers plenty of promise. Her return catch off Nahida Akter in the semifinal against Bangladesh, in fact, was one of the moments of the women’s cricket at the Asian Games. The world has no doubt about her batting, though. Ever since she came back into the Indian team as a replacement during the ODI World Cup, she has been marvellous. She bats with fearlessness and freedom. She can destroy an attack in no time. And with Smriti often batting at the other end, the bowlers are in an unenviable space. How fortunate India is to have such a delightful, and effective, pair at the top of the order. They have shown at the Asian Cup and the Asian Games how crucial they are to India’s fortunes. As has Deepti Sharma, the champion all-rounder. Harmanpreet also praised the efforts of Deepti and Shreyanka Patil, who was returning to the team after her T20 World Cup was cut short by injury. The balance between experience and fresh talent was spot on in our team, and everyone delivered when it mattered.”
“Shreyanka and Deepti are consistent match-winners,” she said. and always among the leading wicket-takers.
