Indian cricketers hail India Women's team for their win in WWC 2017 opener

Former Indian star Sachin Tendulkar has hailed India Women’s team batting performance against England in the opening match of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017. Tendulkar posted a tweet in which he lauded Punam Raut, Smriti Mandhana and Mithali Raj for their superb knocks after being put into bat first at the County Ground in Derby.

Earlier today, India finished on their highest ever World Cup score when they amassed 281 runs at the loss of just three wickets in their stipulated 50 overs. They haven’t been in great touch in their warm-up games, but captain Mithali Raj had already assured that didn’t really matter, and that they would bring their best once the tournament began.

True to her words, the Indian team began their World Cup campaign with a flourish. Two near-centuries of contrasting brilliance from the openers Mandhana and Raut gave them a solid platform while Raj carried on her brilliant run of form.

While Mandhana was at her striking best right from the outset, hitting elegant strokes through the offside, Raut provided the perfect balance with her calm and composed innings. Mandhana was the first to depart, having scored 90 off just 72 balls. Raj joined Raut in the middle and the two build a solid partnership. However, Raut got out for 86, trying to up the scoring rate in the 43rd over. Harmanpreet Kaur finished off with the big hitting everyone knows she can bring while Raj completed her fifty.

It was the seventh half-century in a row for Raj, four of them unbeaten. She was unfortunate to be dismissed on the last delivery of the innings. Until her dismissal, Mithali averaged more than Meg Lanning in ODI cricket, their respective marks are now at 52.25 and 52.37.

Coming out to defend the score, the Indian bowlers bowled tight lines and kept the pressure on the English batters. The slow bowlers especially were really good and helped in choking the opponents down. After losing early wickets  England did make a comeback with the partnership between skipper Heather Knight and Fran Wilson but it was broken by a run out and another couple of those followed to put the win in Team India’s basket.

Here’s Sachin’s tweet applauding the team’s performance right through the game:

Bhajji also congratulated the Women in Blue and so did the others