A bowler like Poonam leads from the front, says Harmanpreet
Indian women's cricket team's ace spinner Poonam Yadav was instrumental in the ICC World T20 opener against Australia on Friday in Sydney. India Women beat the defending champions by 17 runs in a crucial Group A encounter. Poonam (4/19) was the chief architect for India and spun a web to hurt Australia Women. Here's what skipper Harmanpreet Kaur had to say.
How did the match pan out?
India Women managed 132/4 in 20 overs. Deepti Sharma (49*) shined with the bat. Her fifty-plus stand with Jemimah Rodrigues was the turning factor. In reply, Australia (115/10) were rattled by leg-spinner Poonam. Besides the half-century from Alyssa Healy, no Australia batsmen offered much sheen. Indian bowlers were superb and had the game under control. Shikha Pandey (3/14) was also among the wickets.
Great feeling to win the first game, says Harmanpreet
Harmanpreet highlighted that the track wasn't easy to bat on and it's a great feeling to win the opener. "Great feeling to win the first game. Knew this track is something where we can do well. Knew if we're able to score 140, our bowlers will be able to defend it, and that's what happened. This track wasn't easy to bat on."
'Poonam is someone who leads from the front'
In the post-match presentation, the Indian captain praised Poonam for her brilliance. "I'm happy we got 130 and that was something with which our bowlers can do well. A bowler like Poonam is someone who leads from the front," she said.
Poonam slams these T20I records after a superb spell
Poonam now has 89 career T20I wickets in 63 matches. She is now the joint-sixth highest wicket-taker in T20Is alongside Pakistan's Sana Mir. This was Poonam's third four-wicket haul in the format. The champion spinner now has 22 scalps in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup. She is now the seventh-highest wicket-taker in the tournament. Poonam registered her second-best figures in the competition.
