ICC WWC 2017, India Women v Windies Women, Preview: Mithali Raj and co aim to continue winning momentum

India Women had a phenomenal start to their campaign in the coveted ICC event. They thoroughly outplayed the pre-tournament favorites England Women in their first game with a complete all-round performance. The Indian top order looks in fantastic form capable of taking apart any bowling lineup. They have been on a winning spree with 17 consecutive wins to their name in the recent times.

They are now up against the Windies Women. Contrasting fortunes have beckoned for the Women in maroon. Nothing has been quite ideal for them ever since their win in the ICC World T20 last year. Coming into this tournament, they suffered a total collapse as they were bundled out for a score of 60 odd in the warm up fixture against South Africa.

Coming into tournament proper, they had an embarrassing defeat against Australia Women in their first game of the tournament. The batting and the bowling failed in cumulative fashion for them in the previous game. Amidst this contrasting background, the two sides will lock horns in their second game of the tournament. Needless to say, India Women will start as favorites for the game.

Focus will be on

Mithali Raj

Indian skipper Mithali Raj is making some serious statement with her batting in the recent times. She has been on a run scoring spree. More importantly, she has learnt the right way to get under the skin of the opposition with her off field tactics. She was seen reading a book before she came into bat against England showing how calm she was. She came in and hammered a quick 70 for her team to guide the side to a total in excess of 280. She will be hoping to do the same in this game as well.

Stafanie Taylor

The Windies camp are struggling big time in both their departments. However, their skipper Stafanie Taylor has been holding the fort for them with both bat and the ball. In the previous game, she bowled quite well considering the fact that the other bowlers were taken to the cleaners by the Australian women. Earlier, she had shown good courage with the bat as well, scoring 40 odd runs with the bat.

Team Combinations

India Women

The Indian team looks very balanced at the moment. They have their top order firing which is a great news for the team camp. Smriti Mandhana had injured her knee during the England innings in the tournament opener. However, she is expected to be fit for the game against Windies. Punam Raut looks good as her opening partner. Mithali Raj at number three completes a powerhouse top order for the women in blue.

The likes of Mona Meshram and Harmanpreet Kaur in the middle order can take a heavy toll on any opposition on the given day. Sushma Verma has done a decent job behind the stumps. In the bowling department, Deepti Sharma has been in a wicket taking form. The experience of Jhulan Goswami in the pace department only beefs up the overall strength of this side.

Windies Women

The Windies Women have similar crisis situation as their men counterparts do. They have been plagued by inconsistency big time. They have done really well in surprising their opposition on sporadic occasions. However, they have failed to back it up with another one in the next game. The team would be happy with the way Deandra Dottin and Stafanie Taylor have been batting in the top order.

Hayley Mathews, the opener, has also got some runs under her belt. The bowling is something that remains a concern for them. Shakera Selman and Shamilia Connell are expected to take the new ball but have been wayward with their lengths. Shanel Daley and Stafanie Taylor have been the economical bowlers for them.

Probable XI:

India Women

Mithali Raj (c), Jhulan Goswami, Ekta Bisht, Harmanpreet Kaur, Mona Meshram, Punam Raut, Smriti Mandhana, Shikha Pandey, Poonam Yadav, Sushma Verma (wk), Deepti Sharma.

Windies Women

Merissa Aguilleira (wk), Deandra Dottin, Anisa Mohammed, Stafanie Taylor (c), Shanel Daley, Shakera Selman, Shamilia Connell, Afy Fletcher, Hayley Matthews, Chedean Nation, Felicia Walters.

Stat Attack

7 – number of consecutive fifties hit by Mithali Raj in ODI cricket.