India captain Harmanpreet Kaur acknowledged that giving other batters batting opportunities in the Women’s Asia Cup match backfired after India lost by 13 runs to Pakistan. India had been experimenting with their batting order after their 41-run victory over Sri Lanka in the tournament’s opening match, which they won against Malaysia and the UAE. 

Dayalan Hemalatha, Pooja Vastrakar, and Deepti Sharma batted first in the match against Pakistan on Friday. Harmanpreet batted at number seven instead of her usual number four spot.However, the experiment did not produce the desired outcomes, and despite Richa Ghosh’s last-minute cameo of 26 runs off just 13 balls, India were bowled out for 124 in 19.4 overs, 13 runs short of their target.

“In the middle, we were trying to give the chance to other batters, which cost us today. Because you have to do that as the tournament goes on, but it backfired. It was a chaseable target. In the middle overs, we were not able to take singles and rotate strike, we played too many dot balls,” said Harmanpreet in the post-match presentation ceremony.

India’s 13-run defeat was only their third in T20Is against Pakistan and their first against their archrivals in the Women’s Asia Cup’s history.

“For me it is important that whoever is new in the side, they should good number of games heading into the World Cup, because whenever you change the side the players coming in should be ready. It was a great opportunity for others,”

added Harmanpreet.

After losing to Bangladesh in the 2018 Women’s Asia Cup final, the hosts and defending champions, India now have less than 24 hours to regroup and turn the tide.

“We are aware of that and never take any team lightly. It is a part of the game. Yesterday, Thailand played a good game. Today, they (Pakistan) played good cricket, and they came up trumps and deserved to win it. Going forward, we need to work on those areas and be strong,”

asserted Harmanpreet.

Bismah Maroof, captain of Pakistan, was overjoyed with her team’s flawless execution of their plans against India and praised senior all-rounder Nida Dar for her all-around performance with the bat and ball.

Pakistan reached 137/6 in 20 overs thanks to Nida’s attacking 56 not out off 37 balls.In her four off-spin overs, she had figures of 2/23 with the bat, including Harmanpreet’s wicket.

“Very important game for us after yesterday. We executed the things very well. How Nida batted beautifully. We just wanted to take calculated risks. Nida played a crucial innings for us and helped us get a good total. In the middle we were looking for gaps, and we know Nida can hit so we look to hit the strength areas. We didn’t assess the conditions well (yesterday). We read the conditions well today. We executed the plans very well today.”

she said

ALSO READ: IN-W vs PA-W, T20: PAK women win by 13 runs

Nida, adjudged as Player of the match for her all-round exploits, revealed that she was looking for her hitting zones with the bat to put India under pressure.

 “It was a slow start but I went there and talked to Bismah and she said look we have to make a partnership here. It was a good wicket for the batters but it was my role to play an innings like that. It was like I wanted to find my hitting areas. We need to work on our last three to four overs and need to finish well.”

she said.

Harmanpreet Kaur, captain of the Indian women’s cricket team, reiterated that Deepti Sharma’s run-out of England batter Charlie Dean in the third ODI a few days ago was legal and that she will always support her players’ freedom of expression on the field. Harmanpreet provided an response to a question regarding England captain Heather Knight’s claim that the Indian team is a liar during an interview prior to the Women Asia Cup 2022, which will begin on October 1 in Bangladesh.

Knight took to Twitter to claim that Indians were lying and that no warning was given after Deepti Sharma revealed on landing in India that she had warned Charlie Dean before running her out at the non-striker’s end.

“The game is over, Charlie was dismissed legitimately. India were deserved winners of the match and the series. But no warnings were given. They don’t need to be given, so it hasn’t made the dismissal any less legitimate. But if they’re comfortable with the decision to affect the run out, India shouldn’t feel the need to justify it by lying about warnings,”

Knight wrote in a series of tweets. 

Harmanpreet stated that this run-out discussion must end and that he would not comment on the matter. But she said that Deepti’s actions were in line with the rules.

“We have already discussed a lot on Deepti Sharma’s run out of Charlie Dean. I don’t think we have to keep discussing things again and again. Whatever happened, has happened. I am very happy with the performance of the team. We were noticing these things (England batter leaving the crease at non-striker’s end before the ball is bowled) from the last couple of games. She (Dean) was taking a long stride. She was taking an undue advantage. I think it was her (Deepti) awareness that she pulled it off. It was not in our plan to get her out like that. You are on the ground and you want to win at every cost. It was within the rules and we are happy with the result. There is enough discussion on this matter,”

said Harmanpreet Kaur. 

Harman also talked about how important it was to beat England in ODIs in a historic way. She stated that the team’s consistent effort and planning contributed to the outcome.

“When we went to England, at that time we were looking to play good cricket. We were not putting unnecessary pressure on ourselves. We knew out job at hand and everything was planned. We were working on something and we did not think about creating history. We were just going through our plans. When you have plans and you are working towards something, results will automatically come. We knew if we keep doing the good work, results will come.”

she added

Harman added that in the upcoming Asia Cup 2022, she wants to give chances to players who rarely get a game so that a solid squad could be built leading to the T20 World Cup next year. 

ALSO READ: Sachin Tendulkar lauds his teammates after India Legends reach RSWS final: Bowlers did a fantastic job

“Our first target will be to give enough chances to other players who have not got so for. And we want to work on a lot of areas as a team. Especially, how to use the first 6 overs and if somebody can come and spend some time in the middle in the first 6 overs, we will try to change our batting order so that other batters could also get some time. In the last overs also, we will try and give them enough chances. We will try different team combinations. This is an important tournament for us and it gives a chance to other players who can come and perform. If you perform here, you can get a lot of confidence for the World Cup,”

concluded Harmanpreet.

India’s skipper Harmanpreet Kaur led his team to 88-run victory in the second One-Day International, giving India their first series victory over England since 1999.

In the second ODI against England on Wednesday, India Women skipper Harmanpreet Kaur rose to the challenge and blasted a stunning 143 not out off just 111 deliveries. Her massive century enabled India to win the ODI series with one game remaining, setting a new record. After hitting a run-a-ball hundred, Harmanpreet smashed 43 off her subsequent 11 deliveries. She smacked four sixes and 18 boundaries in a stunning display. It was Kaur’s 5th century in ODI for India.

Players and fans alike were fascinated by Harmanpreet’s amazing knock on social media.

“When you’re in form make it count, and that’s what Harmanpreet is doing this year. Once again stands up in an important game. Congratulations on a special hundred,”

tweeted former India batter Wasim Jaffer.

“What a magnificent innings by @ImHarmanpreet! An unbeaten and entertaining knock of 143 with 18 fours and 4 sixes. Keep shining,”

tweeted former India spinner Amit Mishra.

When England won the toss and decided to bowl, Harmanpreet assumed responsibility for leading the visitors to a substantial score after Smriti Mandhana perished for 40 after giving India a great start with Yastika Bhatia.

Harleen Deol, who earned 58 points off of a possible 72, helped Harmanpreet. For the fourth wicket, the two added 113 runs together. The captain then performed the labour-intensive tasks as Pooja Vastrakar and Deepti Sharma made stylish cameo appearances.

With Harmanpreet’s 143*, India scored 333/5. Harmanpreet also executed a magnificent direct hit from mid-on to dismiss England opener Tammy Beaumont and give India the first breakthrough, as if her prowess with the bat weren’t enough.

ALSO READ: EN-W vs IN-W ODI: IND secures 88 run win!

Afterwards, Indian bowlers took over, and even though Danni Wyatt (65), Alice Capsey, and Amy Jones all played solid innings of 39 each, England was bowled out for 245. Spinner Charlie Dean (37) put up some resistance against the lower order as well, but she ended up being the last wicket to be taken. With the bowling, Renuka Singh stood out, taking four wickets. Since 1999, India Women have not won an ODI series in England.

EN-W vs IN-W 2nd ODI: India 333 for 5 (Harmanpreet 143*, Deol 58) beat England 245 (Wyatt 65, Renuka 4-57) by 88 runs

Harmanpreet Kaur’s transcending unbeaten century delivered India a reverberating triumph over England at Canterbury and an unassailable 2-0 ODI series lead.

India’s 88-run win, based on Harmanpreet’s 143 not out off 111 balls, implies Saturday’s finale at Lord’s will be a dead rubber with regards to the series with England’s best expectation currently claiming the two ICC Women’s Championship points on offer in a consolation victory after winning the T20I leg of the tour 2-1.

Asked to accomplish the first 300-plus run chase in quite a while’s ODI after India posted 333 for 5 – their second-highest in the format, England managed 245 in reply, Danni Wyatt’s 50 going in vain as Renuka Singh claimed four wickets to put the win beyond England’s reach and India winning with 34 balls to spare.

Having won the toss and choosing to bowl first in cool and cloudy conditions, England knew the key to forcing the series to a decider at the home of cricket was to decrease the danger of India’s firing top order.

Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet had delivered their side to a commanding seven-wicket win in the opening ODI at Hove on Sunday, with 91 and 74 not out respectively, Mandhana also keeping her side in contention during the T20Is with an unbeaten 79 in the second match.

England started alright when Kate Cross, playing her 50th ODI, bowled Shafali Verma in the second over of the match and Charlie Dean took a sharp return catch to eliminate Yasatika Bhatia and break a second-wicket stand of 54.

Opener Mandhana looked dangerous once more however, stripping off four fours and smacking Sophie Ecclestone over the fence at wide long-on on en route to 40. Yet, it was Ecclestone who finished Mandhana’s thump with one that spun back in to beat the attempted sweep and strike the side of her back thigh for lbw. At that stage Mandhana had placed on 33 runs with Kaur, who carried on in fine touch with Harleen Deol keeping pace nicely.

Deol dispatched Ecclestone down the ground for six to move to 47 and raised her fifty a brief time later with a single dabbed through midwicket and afterward carried India past the 200-mark with another maximum, swept over deep square leg off Lauren Ringer.

When Bell had Deol caught by Wyatt at deep midwicket, India were on track to post a monumental total and Harmanpreet was in a staggering mood.

Harmanpreet released her trademark slog-sweep overwhelming everything in the vicinity and was likewise punishing to the off side, her two sixes over the covers off debutant Freya Kemp bookending a merciless slog off Ecclestone over the deep midwicket boundary.

Kemp, the 17-year-old left-arm seamer who has had a noteworthy maiden international summer in England’s T20I team, endured a torrid introduction to the longer format. After bowling seven overs for 28 runs, she wound up surrendering 82 runs off her 10-over allocation for only one wicket, that of Pooja Vastrakar, who was caught by Emma Sheep in the 46th over. It was the most runs yielded by an England bowler in a Women’s ODI, trailed by individual seamer Ringer, who took 1 for 79 from 10 overs.

Harmanpreet added the overwhelming majority as she and Deepti Sharma heaped on one more 71 runs Vastrakar’s excusal at a stunning partnership run rate of 17.75, the highest for a 50-plus stand in Women’s ODIs where information is available.

They took 62 runs off the last three overs, 26 of those approaching off the 48th as Kemp sent down six wide deliveries and went for three fours and a six. Harmanpreet grabbed 18 of the 19 runs Kemp yielded off the final over, including another aerial cover drive for six followed promptly by three consecutive fours to finish a dazzling showcase.

At the point when Capsey fell for 39 guiding Deepti to Shafali at mid-off, it was in the possession of experienced pair Wyatt and Amy Jones – England’s acting captain without the injured Heather Knight and Nat Sciver, who is taking an mental-health break – to steady  the home side once more.

ALSO READ: T20 World Cup: Hardik Pandya takes on No.5 mantle

They set up on 65 runs however when Renuka bowled Wyatt for 65 with a plunging yorker to guarantee her third wicket and Dayalan Hemalatha had Jones befuddled with just her third delivery after entering the assault, it seemed like only a matter of time before India finished things.

Renuka claimed her fourth when Ecclestone picked Deol on the deep midwicket boundary. Before long Shafali got her maiden ODI wicket – and third in international cricket – when failed to overturn her lbw excusal through a now-working DRS. Dean delivered a strong thump at No. 9 to reach 37 from 44 balls before she was the last batter out, puzzled off the bowling of Hemalatha, however the damage was long done, well before – by Harmanpreet.

A confident Indian team will back itself to seal its first series victory in England since 1999 with another win over the hosts in the second women’s ODI in Canterbury on Wednesday. Having endured a woeful 1-2 defeat in the T20I series, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian side raised its standards in all the departments of the game to bounce back in three days’ time and defeat England by seven wickets in the series-opener at Hove on Sunday. England are missing some of their senior players but India looked a much better team in the first game and they would be looking to ride the momentum.

In 1999, the Indian team had won the ODI series 2-1 with Anjum Chopra striking a hundred and a half-century. It is also a farewell series for the great Jhulan Goswami as India do not have any 50-over assignment till June 2023. Playing her first game since March, the 39-year-old world record holder for most wickets showed little signs of rustiness and was the most economical among the lot, returning with figures 10-2-20-1.

Also Read: T20 World Cup: NZ announces squad!

Harmanpreet looking for a win against England at their home ground

Indian vice-captain Smriti Mandhana led the batting show with a sublime 99-ball 91, while wicketkeeper batter Yastika Bhatia also struck a fifty, before skipper Harmanpreet finished off the clinical chase with an unbeaten 74. The captain will be expecting the middle-order to step up and hope opener does well as she has not scored a half-century in more than 10 innings now.

England on the other hand will hope that their batters put up a big total as they will rely heavily on in-form Sophia Dunkley, who had a successful T20I series. Dunkley and Alice Capsey once again looked dangerous in the middle before a one-handed catch by Harmanpreet broke the partnership and triggered a collapse. If India manage to win the second game, it will be a massive confidence booster for a team trying to find its feet in 50-over cricket.

ENG(W) vs IND(W), 1st ODI: India 232 for 3 (Mandhana 91, Harmanpreet 74*, Bhatia 50) beat England 227 for 7 (Davidson-Richards 50*, Wyatt 43, Deepti 2-33) by seven wickets

A strong and classy knock of 91 from vice-captain Smriti Mandhana fueled India to triumph after their bowlers confined England to 227 for 7 in the first ODI in Hove. Almost everything went ideal for India after they won the toss and decided to bowl on a slow pitch. They got early wickets. They kept things tight. Also, they were so ruthless they permitted just a single partnership to cross fifty runs in the entire innings. If that wasn’t a sufficient centre, when it was their chance to bat, three of the top four – Mandhana, Yastika Bhatia and Harmanpreet Kaur – hit half-centuries to seal the chase with 34 balls to spare.

India’s bowling was a collective performance from the quicks and spinners that left England without any trace of momentum in a stop-start innings and the circumstances were such that low bounce accounted for two wickets. The hosts had slipped to 94 for 5 and afterward 128 for 6 and were gazing at a much lower total until Danni Wyatt hit 43 and Alice Davidson-Richards made unbeaten 50 towards the end.

India dominated England from the start

India had England’s players on a leash right from the start with the return of Jhulan Goswami following six months for her farewell series. Emma Lamb whipped Meghna for two fours through the leg side before she edged a bouncer behind off a similar bowler in the eighth over. Nine balls later, Goswami’s inswinger caught Tammy Beaumont lbw for 7 off 21 with England having crept to only 26 for 2 in 10 overs.

Sophia Dunkley, who scored vigorously against India during the T20Is, and debutant Alice Capsey steered the hosts through a steady period however a spin squeeze from both ends ended the 43-run stand when Harmanpreet took a one-handed catch at short midwicket to send Capsey back. In what would become a pattern for the whole England innings, when it seemed Wyatt and Dunkley were rebuilding steadily, Dunkley first handed a clear catch to cover off Harleen Deol and a ball that kept extremely low from Rajeshwari Gayakwad redirected away from Amy Jones foot to hit the stumps, leaving England 94 for 5.

India lost Shafali Verma for 1 however Bhatia and Mandhana’s 96-run stand kept them ticking at over 5.50 an over. Assuming Bhatia’s innings saw a few half possibilities and edges land securely, Mandhana’s was loaded with elegant cover drives that fetched her regular boundaries. She struck three of those one after another off Kate Cross and Issy Wong. India were 59 for 1 toward the end of the powerplay, having hit 11 fours contrasted with England’s three in the same period. Conditions looked much better for scoring during the chase and Bhatia traded out, top-edging a six and clacking three additional fours to raise a 45-ball fifty. She fell following however, when she descended the track and missed one from Dean.

ALSO READ: Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard- T20 Stalwarts and Fierce Competitors

Mandhana was confident as ever and along with Harmanpreet eased along with the asking rate around four an over. Harmanpreet took out her trademark sweeps and Mandhana crunched Dean back down the ground for her 24th 50 years. England likewise attempted a spin squeeze with Ecclestone, Dean and Lamb however it didn’t work. With an easy 71 required off 20 overs, Harmanpreet scooped Cross for a four and Mandhana smoked Wong over long-on for six to close in on hundred, however a cross-batted swipe against Cross brought about a top edge and Mandhana was caught at mid-on to miss the mark.

Only 30 runs left for victory from that point, Harmanpreet raised a patient 80-ball fifty before hitting the winning runs with a sweep for six.

Harmanpreet Kaur, the captain of India, praised Jhulan Goswami on Tuesday, adding that “nobody can fill her shoes” due to her unmatched devotion for the game. After the third and final ODI against England at Lord’s on September 24, the 39-year-old, who has amassed the most wickets in international cricket in a career spanning more than two decades, is expected to announce his retirement. On the eve of their departure for their white-ball series in England, Harmanpreet told the media in Bengaluru, “She goes to every game with the same type of passion that is unmatched, nobody can beat it.”

Harmanpreet has many fond memories of the renowned Indian pacer, who has a world record 252 wickets to her name from 201 ODIs and is the only bowler with more than 200 wickets in the format. She made her debut under Jhulan’s captaincy in a match against Pakistan during the 2009 World Cup.

Before leaving for the England series, Indian captain Harmanpreet praised Goswami for her legendary contribution to the game in a press conference. She said:

“She goes to every game with the same kind of passion which is unmatched, nobody can beat that. She’s someone who always puts in the same kind of effort, bowling two-three hours. She still puts in the same kind of hard work she used to during her early days… I’ve never seen her make any changes to her practice regimen. You hardly see any bowler doing like that, or even at the nets while batting. Nobody can match the passion she has for cricket,”

Harmanpreet added

Jhulan last represented India at the ODI World Cup in New Zealand in March of this year. However, he was forced to withdraw from the Sri Lanka trip in July after suffering a side strain just before India’s last group game against South Africa.

Jhulan made her international debut in 2002

In 2018, she retired from T20s, and in October 2021, she played her final test match. Jhulan has participated in 201 ODIs, 12 Tests, 68 T20 Internationals, and six World Cup appearances overall.

India will start their tour with three T20 matches on September 9, fresh off their silver medal-winning performance at the Commonwealth Games Birmingham.

After that, India will play three one-day internationals at Hove (September 18), Canterbury (September 21), and Lord’s (September 24), their first at the revered stadium since losing the 2017 Cricket World Cup final.

ALSO READ: BAN vs AFG, Asia Cup’22: Head-to-Head Records

They would try to make it a special event for her, according to Harmanpreet.

“We are talking about it being her last tournament. It would be very special for her and for us. We would try to create some great moments for her so she can go back with some special memories.”

She said

Sourav Ganguly, the President of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has praised the Indian women’s cricket team for winning a silver medal at the ongoing Commonwealth Games. However, he additionally said that the team would be disheartened on missing gold as it was “their game”. India lost the gold medal match against Australia by 9 runs at Edgbaston, Birmingham as they failed to chase down 162.

Australia skipper Meg Lanning chose to bat first and posted 161/8 infeasible from Mooney’s knocks of 61 runs. For India, Renuka Singh and Sneh Rana got back with two wickets each.

In the pursuit of 162, India were controlling everything with Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues pushing ahead. Though, the side imploded from 118/2 to 152 hard and fast, and eventually, Australia wrapped up a success.

For India, captain Harmanpreet top-scored with a knock of 65.

Earlier on Sunday, New Zealand had won the bronze medal in women’s cricket after defeating England.

After silver, Harmanpreet addressed NDTV and said:

 “Yeah definitely it is a big moment for all of us. First time, we were participating and the way we played this tournament, it was great to watch. We were close to gold medal, but once again we did the same mistakes we have been doing in the big tournaments. You know, we have to keep working hard on lower-order batting. I am sure we will do well in the upcoming tournaments. I think this silver medal matters a lot, this will definitely motivate young girls back home,”

Harmanpreet said.

ALSO READ: CWG 2022: India bags Silver, against Australia in Women’s T20I Cricket CWG Final

Before the CWG gold award match, Australia’s Tahlia McGrath tried positive for COVID-19, yet she was permitted to play the final.

“Well, they did inform us before the toss, it was something which was not in our control. We went with the sportsman spirit, she was not that ill, we did what we had to do, it was not in our control,”

said the India skipper.