Agra girls Poonam and Deepti help India stun Australia
LUCKNOW :Two Taj city girls made India proud on Friday by helping the women’s cricket team win their opening match of the Women’s T20 World Cup at Sydney.
Poonam Yadav and Deepti Sharma, born on same day (August 24) in different years, came up with sterling performances to help favourites India stun reigning champions and hosts Australia by 17 runs.
While leggie Poonam bagged 4/19, left-hander Deepti struck an unbeaten 49 in 46 balls with the help of three hits to the fence to guide India score 132.
In reply, Australia could make just 115 in 19.5 overs.
“This is one of the proudest moments for me also as I too was very worried about Poonam’s good showing after her surgery in her non-bowling finger in December. It’s her accuracy as well as variation, which made all the difference to the Australians today,” Poonam’s long -time coach Manoj Kushwaha said after India’s great start in the World Cup.
Poonam, who was conferred with prestigious Arjuna award last year didn’t stop practising leg spin even while recovering from injury in January.
“She (Poonam) didn’t stop practising at the nets,” said Kushwaha, who runs Thrive Cricket Academy in Agra. “She (Poonam) has special ability of foxing rivals with her googlies and that’s what made the difference in today’s match.”
Deepti’s contribution in India’s win on Friday wasn’t less than Poonam as her knock helped the side not only post a challenging total for the rivals, but also brought India out of trouble, which was at one moment struggling at 3/47.
“All eight of us, including six brothers and sisters besides mom and dad, were on fast on the occasion of Shivratri and praying for her success at the match since morning,”
Deepti’s elder brother and coach Sumit Sharma said.
“She (Deepti) was just eight when I started training her and today I feel proud that she has been doing wonders for India at the World Cup,” said Sumit who too has played for UP in under-16 and under-19.
“I watched Deepti’s match as her coach also and am sure about her good and consistent showing in further matches too as she is stroking the ball nicely and played according to the situation,” he added. India now play against Bangladesh on Monday.