GQEBERHA: A career-best five-wicket performance by Indian opening bowler Renuka Thakur was not enough to stop England’s march towards the semi-finals of the Women’s T20 World Cup at St George’s Park in Gqeb¬erha yesterday. England won a top-of-the-table Group 2 contest by 11 runs, handing India their first defeat of the tournament.

Thakur took wickets in each of her three overs in the powerplay and claimed two more in the final over of the innings to finish with five for 15 in seamer-friendly conditions. But Nat Sciver-Brunt and Amy Jones scored freely during most of the rest of the innings as England posted 151 for seven. India replied with 140 for five. Sciver-Brunt hit 50 off 42 balls and Jones made 40 off 27 deliveries. Smriti Mandhana (52 off 41) gave India a strong start when she hit four boundaries off Katherine Sciver-Brunt in the third over of the Indian innings. But India struggled to maintain the required run-rate against steady English bow¬ling. Richa Ghosh struck 47 not out off 34 balls, but it was not enough to change the outcome.

Published in The Daily National Courier, February, 20 2023

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