You could call it a statement of sorts. In Leeds on Wednesday, India put 209/5 on the board and then ran out the Netherlands by 95 runs. For the most part, the day was for the openers, who made light of a grey, overcast morning with a 115-run stand.
Record total sets the agenda
They didn’t just make runs; they took over. With 74 from 47 and 55 off 38, Mandhana and Shafali had a 115 for 70 that left the Dutch with nothing to show for their efforts.
It is the highest score in this tournament’s history, a number that put the onus on the Netherlands to be without fault and let our bowlers get after them.
Openers dictate, then finishers cash in
Shafali was the one to put the boot in first, having captain Babette de Leede making quick work of her bowling changes as we hit 59 in the Powerplay. The Dutch were rattled – you only had to see Myrthe go for six wides in the sixth to know it.
There was method to the madness. An aerial shot over extra cover from Shafali off Woning said it all, and Mandhana was happy to let things build before she put her foot down later on.
Mandhana’s late burst
Once she was in, Mandhana was hard to stop. She had Heather Siegers for a six and then four in as many balls off Silver in the 15th. Shafali, for her part, made 50 in her 16th T20 World Cup innings, a milestone she got to after being let go on 49.
Losing both of them put a bit of a damper on things. Rodrigues and Harmanpreet couldn’t quite get the end-overs going, but Richa Ghosh (20) and Deepti (10) put the fire back in it. We finished on 209, built on a solid base and a few hard hits.
Chase derailed by spin and nerves
The Netherlands were fine at 39/1 in the Powerplay, but the spinners would not let up. Harmanpreet even put the ball in Shafali’s hands in the fourth, and the all-rounder made it count when it came to wickets.
Nandni Sharma to start with, taking out Heather. Then there was Deepti, coming in hot from the Pakistan game to have Phebe Molkenboer for 15. And when a Shafali delivery drifted and nipped in, Sterre Kalis was done for.
What was a contest became a shambles once the middle order caved. Nandni had de Leede stumped with a well-judged length, and Shree Charani took over. Four wickets for her, a near hat-trick in the 17th, and a very simple plan to outthink them.
They were 114 all out, with the last five for a run. Shafali put in a couple more to make a point of it, and the fielding was about as good as it gets.
Selection calls and on-field pivots
You can see the boldness in the XI. Bhatia in for Fulmali, Nandani for Reddy. On the ground it was the same story: Harmanpreet wasn’t shy to use Shafali’s off-spin or set up fields to back up the spinners.
We did have a scare with Shreyanka Patil, who had to be stretchered off with a twisted ankle. But we had enough in the tank with the ball to make sure it didn’t change the outcome.
Why this win matters now
After the Pakistan job, this was about more than keeping up the good work. The net run-rate has us a touch in front of Australia, and that can be the difference when you’re looking at the semis.
In case you missed it, here is what happened in Leeds:
– India are top of Group A
– 115 for the openers in 70 balls
– 209 on the board, a new high
– The Dutch gave up their last five for one
– 95 runs to spare
The Dutch had their moments. A drop on 49 for Shafali, and Richa made the most of a second chance to get us over 200. Those are the things that put distance between you and the other side.
So what does it come down to? Our openers made their mark, the spinners put the lid on it, and the side as a whole was in control. As long as we have that kind of composure up top and in the field, it will be a tough act to follow.
