Hindustan Times ST (Mumbai) - Live
Confident Shafali hopes to come good vs England
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CHANDIGARH: The ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup in South Africa has not turned out the way India opener Shafali Verma would have wanted. The U-19 World Cup-winning captain got starts in the first two games — scoring 28 against Pakistan and 33 against West Indies — but has not been able to convert them into big scores.
Batters Richa Ghosh and Jemimah Rodrigues have been architects of the two wins so far but India would want their opening duo of Shafali and Smriti Mandhana to come good and provide a solid start against a formidable England when the two teams meet at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Saturday.
Speaking ahead of the match, Shafali said, “I have worked on my skills since the last T20 World Cup in Australia. I have worked hard on picking the right ball to hit. The last couple of weeks has been crucial and eventful for me. I have got the starts in the previous matches and I will be looking to score big knocks in the coming games. I am looking forward to taking on the England bowlers in the next game.”
The spotlight will also be on Mandhana, who was back against West Indies after missing the opening game against Pakistan owing to a finger injury.
The left-handed opener looked in fine touch but failed to score big. Skipper Kaur, who scored 16 and 33 in the two outings, will also look to regain her destructive touch ahead of the knock-outs.
A win against world No 2 England will effectively take the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side into the knock-out stage. Assuming India beat Ireland on Monday, they will end the league stage as Group B toppers and will meet the secondplaced team from Group A in Cape Town on February 24. And assuming the defending World Cup champions Australia finish on top of their group, the winners of the India-England match on Saturday could well decide the team which will avoid the Aussies in the semi-final.
Chances of rain
In the 2020 edition of the T20 World Cup in Australia, the semi-final between India and
England was washed out due to rains and India got a direct entry in the final against the hosts. Another rain-curtailed game may be on the cards as showers are expected ahead of the match.
England would be hoping their bowlers Charlie Dean, Katherine Sciver-Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone and Sarah Glenn put up an impressive show and stop the Indian batters from dominating. “India are a tough opposition,” said England mediumpacer Lauren Bell.
England would also bank on teenager Alice Capsey, who will head into the match high on confidence after notching the jointfastest fifty in the tournament’s history.
Meanwhile, in Friday’s Group 1 match, New Zealand beat Bangladesh by 71 runs.
TV timings: India vs England, 6.30pm, live on Star Sports 2 &HD