As the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the UAE approaches, Team India continues to face challenges with its top-order batting. Despite winning their second warm-up match against South Africa by 28 runs, the recurring failure of key batters remains a concern for the Indian side ahead of their first official game on 3 October.
Top Order Fails Again
In the second warm-up match, held at the ICC Academy in Dubai, India’s batting issues resurfaced. Just like the first practice game, the team, led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur, struggled at the top. Shefali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, and Harmanpreet Kaur, who form the core of India’s batting lineup, once again faltered.
Shefali was dismissed for a duck, falling on the second ball of the match. Harmanpreet Kaur couldn’t contribute much either, getting out cheaply. Smriti Mandhana looked promising, but she was unable to convert her start into a significant score, continuing a troubling trend from the previous game.
Jemimah Rodriguez, who had played a crucial role in India’s previous win, also couldn’t make a big impact this time, as her innings was cut short in the 9th over. Fortunately, middle-order players Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma rescued the team with a vital 70-run partnership. Thanks to their efforts, India managed to post a competitive total of 144/7 in their 20 overs. South Africa’s Ayabonga Khaka was the standout bowler, claiming 5 wickets and keeping India’s batting in check.
9 Bowlers Power India to Victory
India’s bowling department was the real hero of the match. Harmanpreet Kaur deployed a staggering 9 bowlers, showcasing India’s depth in both pace and spin. The South African opening pair gave their team a decent start, adding 37 runs, but they soon lost momentum against India’s varied bowling attack.
The Indian pace attack set the tone early, restricting South Africa’s batters, while the spinners took charge of claiming crucial wickets. Kaur used six different spinners, with Asha Shobhana leading the pack, taking 2 wickets. While Radha Yadav remained wicketless, all other spinners contributed to South Africa’s struggle. In the end, South Africa could only manage 116/9 in their 20 overs, giving India a comfortable 28-run victory.
Key Takeaways Before the Tournament
Though India managed back-to-back victories in their warm-up games, the top order’s failure remains a significant concern as they head into the Women’s T20 World Cup. The team’s reliance on the middle and lower order, coupled with excellent bowling performances, is masking their batting vulnerabilities. With the tournament set to begin, Team India will need their key batters to find form quickly to make a strong statement in the competition.
