India finished runner-up for the second time in ICC Women’s World Cup
London: There was heartbreak for India as Mithali Raj and team faltered at the last hurdle in the Women’s World Cup 2017, losing by a whisker against England. This was the second time that India finished runner-up in the showpiece event, having lost in the final to Australia in 2005 as well. England won their fourth world title, and while there were contrasting emotions, Sunday’s final was a magnificent advertisement for women’s cricket in general in India in particular. It was an anti-climactic result for India since they were well on course for a memorable triumph, sitting pretty at 191 for three in 42.5 before a batting collapse saw them bowled out for 219 in 48.4 overs. Needing just 38 runs off 43 balls, the Indian lower middle order collapsed losing seven wickets for 28 runs in 6.5 overs. Opener Punam Raut (86) and Harmanpreet Kaur’s (51) steady half centuries had set the platform but once they departed it was far from a smooth ride as England’s consistent strikes turned it into a cliff-hanger. Veda Krishnamurthy (35 off 34 balls), Sushma Verma’s (0) and Jhulan Goswami (0) were dismissed in space of nine balls. Krishnamurthy had raised hopes with a cameo but her sloppy shot selection off Anya Shrubsole in the 45th over changed the script as it exposed the tailenders to a pressure situation which they could not cope with.
Nevertheless, the Indian women’s team emerged as a force in world cricket with some inpsiring peformances such as Harmanpreet Kaur’s fearless strokeplay.
However, it was one last chance for captain Raj and veteran Jhulan to have a world title in their cupboards. India were making their second appearance in a World Cup final. They lost their previous final, against Australia in Centurion, by 98 runs in 2005.
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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR: A SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR READERS