Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra reckons India’s match against Australia in the Women T20 World Cup will be a virtual quarterfinal clash. Harmanpreet Kaur’s team suffered a six-wicket loss against South Africa at Old Trafford, Manchester on Sunday.
India could only post 158 runs on the board after they elected to bat first after winning the toss. A lot of the Indian batters got off to starts but could not convert them into substantial scores.
On the other hand, South African all-rounder Marizanne Kapp scored a match-winning knock of 81 runs off 45 balls.
“Where are India standing now? I am saying it would be a virtual quarterfinal because South Africa have two easy games, and I feel they would win those matches. Australia will keep winning their matches. It seems like they are head and shoulders above the rest,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
“So if South Africa win their remaining games, we also win the one match in between, and assuming Australia don’t lose to Pakistan, if India win the match against Australia, they have chances to progress, or else they would be done. So it seems like it would be a virtual quarterfinal. Beat Australia at Lord’s and make a place in the semifinals,” he added.
The former Delhi cricketer believes India would have won against the Proteas if they had posted 10 or 15 more runs on the board.
“India decided to bat first after winning the toss, and the start was explosive. We reached 50 very quickly and nearly 100 in 12 overs, but then we couldn’t even touch 160. We lost wickets at regular intervals. This match might have been in your grasp had you scored 10 or 15 more runs,” he said.
Chopra highlighted that none of the Indian batters could score a fifty whereas Shafali Verma was brilliant in her cameo of 31 runs off 15 balls.
“Not even one Indian batter scored a fifty, in which Shafali Verma was absolutely outstanding at the start. After that, in bowling, we had grabbed them in the Powerplay. Sree Charani bowled a double-wicket maiden, which included Laura Wolvaardt’s wicket,” Chopra elaborated.
The renowned commentator said Kapp took the game away from India with her blistering knock.
“However, after that, Marizanne Kapp’s storm came, and she won the game single-handedly. If the entire team scores 161 and someone scores 81 out of that, I mean more than 50 percent runs were scored by a batter who didn’t open, you doff your hat and say that, Marizanne Kapp, you are an outstanding cricketer,” he observed.
India will next take on Bangladesh at Old Trafford, Manchester, on Thursday.
