In Short
- Smriti Mandhana scored 87 runs against Ireland
- Mandhana became the Player of the Match
- India beat Ireland by 5 runs (DLS Method)
Indian batter Smriti Mandhana said that the knock she played against Ireland in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 was “one of the toughest” she has played in her career. On Monday, February 20, India advanced to the semi-final of the mega event in South Africa after beating Laura Delany’s Ireland by five runs (DLS Method) at St George’s Park.
Mandhana scored 87 runs off 56 balls with the help of nine fours and three sixes before Delany accounted for her wicket. Mandhana also updated on her finger injury that she has been suffering from for quite some time.
When Ireland came out to bat to chase down 156 to win the match, Mandhana didn’t take the field as a precautionary measure.
“The finger is fine. One of the toughest innings I have played. Not the wicket but the pace they were bowling and with the wind, it got worse,” Mandhana was quoted as saying in the post-match presentation ceremony.
The 26-year-old Mandhana also talked about her partnership with Shafali Verma that laid the platform for the Women in Blue. The southpoaw said that because of the wind, batting wasn’t easy.
“We were telling each other to try and maintain our shape. I was batting bad and she was not timing it well. But we were trying to discuss that and there was a lot of wind and we needed to get used to the pace they were bowling. Good to post some runs and go into the semis. The England match wasn’t the way we wanted,” she added.
Shafali and Mandhana put on 62 runs for the opening wicket of 9.3 overs. Even as Shafali got out after scoring 24, the left-handed Mandhana went on to make her start count.
Johnnie King
Trace Hane
Rodolfo Frami