I did not execute my plans well against Hardik, says Zampa after 2nd ODI defeat

KOLKATA: Australia’s Adam Zampa on Tuesday admitted that he failed to execute his plans against Hardik Pandya, whose single-over 24 runs off the leg-spinner proved to be decisive in the first ODI against India.

Australia had reduced India to 87 for 5 at one stage before Pandya (83) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (79) combined for a match-winning stand of 118 runs. The visitors eventually lost the first ODI by 26 runs via D/L method in Chennai.

“I pride myself on bowling well under pressure but the other day I did not execute how I would have liked to in the over against Hardik. It would have been important to get him off the strike. Probably I bowled three balls too full,” said Zampa while recalling the 37th over when he was hit for three sixes in a row by the Indian allrounder.

“As soon as you miss against a player like Hardik, it’s going to go the distance. Hardik is a very good player,” he added.

The 25-year-old, who is the Aussie’s main spin weapon, said the ‘length’ is very important in the subcontinent.

“In Australia you can mess up your length a little bit and you will probably get away with it purely because of the size (of the ground). Here the length is very important. You never liked to be hit for three sixes in a row. But I guess it does happen, probably happened to Shane Warne. As long as you don’t put yourself under too much pressure and learn from those situations, it’s good. Hopefully I will get him out earlier next time,” he said.

Zampa also showered praise on his Rising Pune Supergiant teammate Dhoni, who played a responsible knock at the other end.

“MS has obviously done it for a long time and probably played a lot of innings under pressure like that. The way he has timed his innings in his whole career is probably something. To have him as a guide for a young player like Hardik and others in the Indian team is very helpful. The spinner admitted that Aussies did not bowl too well in the middle overs to break that “very important partnership”.

“We have spoken on how to important it is to start well against a new batsman and probably we did not do that too well in the middle period the other day,” said Zampa. NEW DELHI: Saaniya Sharma, buoyant after ending a more than two-year title drought will be seeking to further improve her position on the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour 2017 this week.

Gaurika Bishnoi, who was overtaken by Amandeep Drall last week on the Order of Merit, will be hoping to cash in due to the absence of three leading players, Amandeep Drall, Vani Kapoor and Neha Tripathi, to get back to the top of the Hero Order of Merit.

Amandeep leads Gaurika by only Rs. 13,100 at this stage. While Amandeep leads the Merit list, Gaurika and Gursimar follow her in second and third places and Saaniya is fourth. Amandeep, Vani and Neha are playing in Europe this week at the Andalucia Costa Del Sol Open in Spain. Vani (3), Amandeep (2) and Neha (1) have won six of the 11 legs of the Hero WPG Tour so far.

Saaniya, a seasoned golfer from Chandigarh, will lead the field this week as the 12th leg of the Hero WPG gets underway on Wednesday at the lovely Delhi Golf Club course. She has been paired with Tvesa Malik and Suchtira Ramesh.

Gaurika is paired with Afshan Fatima, who has had some decent results, but is still looking for her first title, and Gursimar Badwal, who has won twice this season. Gaurika one of the most consistent performers this season has won only once but been in contention very often.

Smriti Mehra, one of the flag bearers of Indian women’s golf, is also in the field this week alongside Mehar Atwal and Ankita Tiwana.