India’s hopes to make it to the final of the Women’s World Cup in Australia suffered a major blow as New Zealand beat them by five wickets, making the road a rather tough one.
Much was expected from the match against New Zealand, even though New Zealand, like India, were responsible for beating the tournament favourites Australia. While the New Zealand team sounded optimistic ahead of their Super Six clash against India, it has to be said that even the Indian team sounded quietly optimistic of their chances.
But the difference in the match lay clearly between the opening stand provided for New Zealand by Kate Pulford and captain and opening partner Haidee Tiffen. Their seventy-eight run partnership out New Zealand, batting first, on their way as they outbeat India’s 207 that was built largely on Reema Malhotra’s half century that brought the Indian score card truly alive to put up a decent challenge. India did stage a recovery after being two down for twenty-six but the build up phase was too slow to gather the runs that would have put New Zealand out of the match.
But Pulford was in a merciless mood, taking Rumeli Dhar apart and surviving a dropped catch by Mithali Raj to make seventy-one match winning runs. Suzie Bates did the rest as New Zealand completed the formalities to present themselves as the team to beat in this tournament.
The defeat though would not only have a demoralizing effect on the Indian team but has also made their passage to the World Cup final harder still. Now not only will they have to beat the West Indies in their next encounter, but also depend on the benevolence of others to get through. This would mean that the so far lackluster Australia will have to stay low against England for India to get through while New Zealand must suffer at the hands of Pakistan if India are to inch closer to their goals.
It is not going to be easy with lots of finger twiddling and a must win game against the West Indies. Can India still sight the World Cup?
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Women’s World Cup: Indian Hopes Raised After Quashing Pakistan ; Australia Stunned
