VISAKHAPATNAM, Oct 8:
India’s top-order batters will have to shed their diffident ways against a rejuvenated South Africa to instil more momentum into their slow-brewing ICC Women’s World Cup campaign here on Thursday.
A glance at the points table will show India’s comfortable second position – the hosts can slip to third if Australia beat Pakistan on Wednesday in Colombo – with two wins from as many games.
But beneath that glossy exterior, India have a mounting worry in the lack of runs so far from talismanic Smriti Mandhana, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and the energetic Jemimah Rodrigues.
The troika faltered against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, forcing India to rely on the second line in Harleen Deol, Amanjot Kaur, Richa Ghosh and Deepti Sharma for the rescue act.
India were 124 for six against Lanka and 159 for five against Pakistan, and each of those situations could have been more perilous if the late order batters were not able to guts it out in the middle.
A repetition of the script will be disastrous against a more well-equipped side like South Africa, and India need a heftier contribution from their star triumvirate in this game.
If the result does not go in India’s favour, it will not only endanger their position on the points table, but will push them to a tighter corner against champions Australia on October 12.
Of course, the Indian management will see the positive side in the outings so far, winning without a major hand from its star batters and might perceive it as the presence of multiple match-winners .
But deep down, they will also accept the need for runs from Mandhana, Harmanpreet and Rodrigues that can be the difference between a good total and winning total against top sides like South Africa or Australia.
Teams:
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Uma Chetry, Renuka Singh Thakur, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Sree Charani, Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud.
South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Ayabonga Khaka, Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Marizanne Kapp, Tazmin Brits, Sinalo Jafta, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Annerie Dercksen, Anneke Bosch, Masabata Klaas, Sune Luus, Karabo Meso, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nondumiso Shangase.
Match starts at 3 pm. (PTI)
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