Another defeat for India women in T20
Melbourne, Feb. 7: The Indian women’s cricket team produced another listless batting performance to suffer a second successive loss in the T20 triangular series, going down to England by four wickets here on Friday.
Sent in to bat, Indian batters failed to capitalise on their starts as they struggled to 123 for six in 20 overs with opener Smriti Mandhana emerging as the top-scorer with a 40ball 45.
Chasing the total, Natalie Sciver smashed a strokeful fifty as England romped home comfortably, scoring 124 for six with seven balls to spare. Sciver’s 50 off 38 balls contained six hits to the fence and a six.
For India, Rajeshwari Gayakwad (3/23) was outstanding with the ball, while Radha Yadav (1/24) also took two wickets but the total on the board was just not enough. India had beaten England in their first T20 of the series.
Auckland, Feb. 7: New Zealand opener Martin Guptill on Friday said his team will look to pump up the aggression against Indian spinners during the second ODI here on Saturday in pursuit of an early series win against the fancied visitors.
The Black Caps chased down their highest-ever total in ODI cricket at Seddon Park on way to their four-wicket win in the first ODI for a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Guptill said the key to New Zealand’s victory was playing well against the spinners. Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja were taken to the cleaners in Hamilton by Kiwi batsmen and leaked 148 runs in all.
“It’s completely different conditions, isn’t it? You have to be a little bit more attacking here I guess and have the confidence that the ball will probably will not spin past your edge as much. You know the odd one might as it did the other night,” he said.
“I thought the way we handled the Indian spinners in Hamilton was some of the best we have done it in a long time. So we can take confidence from that going forward in the series.” Guptill also warned his side against complacency, saying it cannot afford to take a world class team like India lightly.
“I don’t think you can count India out. They are a world-class side, they have got match winners batting and bowling. So, we still have to put up a very good performance tomorrow to be get another win under the belt and take the series,” he said.
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After their disappointing show with the bat against Australia, which resulted in a four-wicket loss in their last match, India were expected to put up an improved show but Harmanpreet and Co. were once again below par.
Sixteen-year-old Shafali Verma, touted as the next big thing in women’s cricket, continued her disappointing run as she lasted just nine balls. She was bowled by Sophie Ecclestone in the sixth over. Mandhana, who smashed seven fours and one maximum in her 40ball innings, was the next to go as she was caught behind by Amy Jones off Katharine Brunt. —
Hyderabad, Feb. 7: The Indian women’s team will not participate in the Badminton Asian Championships, scheduled to be played from February 11 to 16 in Manila, Philippines, in view of the Coronavirus scare.
However, the men’s team will go ahead with the event.
“Unforeseen health hazard apprehension due to the Corona Virus outbreak has resulted in withdrawal of the women’s team for the upcoming Badminton Asian Championships,” Badminton Association of India (BAI) secretary Ajay Kumar Singhania said in a statement.
“BAI had reached out to the concerned authorities in Badminton Asia (BA) for assurances regarding the current situation and necessary health advisory and precautionary measures taken. After receiving complete assurances from BA, BAI had discussed the same with the Indian squad, the men’s team agreed to travel and confirmed their participation. They will leave for Manila on February 9. However, the women’s team was withdrawn owing to concerns showed by parents and players,” the statement read.