The
ides of March was cruel to Julius Caesar ~ it was the last day for paying
advance tax … ~ and the T20 WC began !!
The
pressure of playing at home, seeing themselves on billboards, and trying to
live up to the hype around them for the first time at a global event should
have been draining enough to put India in a cocoon. But the team responded well
and intimidated the opposition, something that hasn't always been associated
with India. The expression of confidence and authority is to do with their
batting transformation, particularly upfront. The Powerplay witnessed even the
composed Raj deviate from her natural game as she tried to hit her way out. And
more often than not, it's the first six overs that have sealed India's fate,
whether they have been batting first or chasing.
At
Chinnasamy Stadium, it was the women power.
India Women 163 for 5 (Raj 42, Harmanpreet 40) beat Bangladesh Women 91
for 5 (Sultana 27*, Patil 2-16, Poonam 2-17) by 72 runs. India Women had played more T20Is in the last
three months than Bangladesh Women had managed to play across formats since
their World T20 debut in 2014. The end result was a lopsided contest as
Bangladesh's lack of experience on the big stage stood brutally exposed. A target
of 164 became a gap too far to bridge as India won by 72 runs to get their
campaign off to an emphatic start.
Mithali
Raj and Vellaswamy Vanitha [above] did the early running, Harmanpreet Kaur gave impetus
in the middle, while Veda Krishnamurthy sustained the surge at the death. Where
Raj was all grace and timing, her younger colleague Vanitha was pure muscle. The
first summer downpour descended on Bangalore soon after India Women wrapped up
a comprehensive win over Bangladesh Women. Mithali Raj looked up to the heavens
and closed her eyes, soaking in the cool air and smell of rain. Then she had a
hearty laugh with her team-mates, posed for the pictures and the selfie.
Chris
Gayle is a great batsman in IPL and many other leagues. With eight squad members over the age of 30,
West Indies are longer in the tooth and in many cases facing the final curtain
- a legend though Chris Gayle remains, it is hard to imagine him turning out
for the 2020 event at the age of 40 - which merely reinforces that sense of now
or never. Easily it could be other team which would feel home in India. West
Indies Vs England today could be the match to watch.
Ignominy
of 79 all out and losing out by 47 runs. No one could quite believe their eyes,
when New Zealand left out Southee, Boult and McClenaghan in the opening game. Other
than Milne and Anderson, it was Brendon’s brother Nathan McCullum, Ish Sodhi
and MJ Santner, who ? … in the end Santner had 4-0-11-4; while Ish Sodhi had
4-0-18-3. The 4 lefties Shikhar Dhawan,
Suresh Raina, Yuvraj, Sir Jadeja and Rohit, Kohli all fell playing tame shots ~
Indian fan disappointed again.
With
regards – S. Sampathkumar
16th
Mar 2016.
Largely collaged from Cricinfo ~ photo
credit too
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