‘Top order lacks the firepower’

India opener Yastika Bhatia is cleaned up by England’s Anya Shrubsole for eight during their World Cup match at the Bay Oval in Tauranga yesterday. Pic/AFP

India captain Mithali Raj and senior pacer Jhulan Goswami on Wednesday said top-order batters haven't been performing to the level that is expected of them but expressed hope that they would make amends soon in the ongoing ICC Women's World Cup. India were bundled out for 134 by struggling defending champions England, who managed to overhaul the target in 31.2 overs with four wickets to spare in a league stage on Wednesday. This was England's first win after three consecutive losses that threw their title defence into disarray.

‘Batting is a concern'

"We definitely didn't have partnership at the top of order, despite getting what we wanted after losing the toss. The thought of putting 200-plus, the match could have gone either ways," Mithali said after the loss that came just after a massive win over the West Indies in the previous match in which Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur scored hundreds.

"Every game as a fielding unit we are doing well and we hope to continue to do that. Batting is a concern but we'll try to address that in the next match, we are playing a team that hasn't lost to anyone," she added about the clash against mighty Australia next. The view was echoed by Goswami in the post-math press conference. "Honestly, at this moment, yes our top order, the way we are thinking, they haven't fired but I am sure you will have to be positive about that, because they have done really well in the past," she said.

"...the way we have been thinking, they have not batted [as per the expectations], but I am very much hopeful they are going to come back hard in the next game," Goswami added. Despite the defeat, India kept their third place in the eight-team standings with four points from two wins and as many losses. "Because everybody wants to do well and this is the biggest platform, everybody wants to do well and contribute to the team. "Again, I am very much hopeful that they [top order] are going to come back stronger in the next game," added Goswami.

Mandhana top scores

India got some runs on the board, thanks to previous game's centurion Smriti Mandhana, who top-scored for the side with a 35-run knock while wicketkeeper batter Richa Ghosh made 33.

With wickets falling intermittently, England bowled out India in 36.2 overs. England also made a stuttering start to their chase as they lost both their openers cheaply. England skipper Heather Knight (53 not out) and Nat Sciver (45 off 46) steadied the innings.

Brief scores
India 134 in 36.2 overs (S Mandhana 35, R Ghosh 33; C Dean 4-23, A Shrubsole 2-20) lost to England 136-6 in 31.2 overs (H Knight 53', N Sciver 45; M Singh 3-26) by four wickets

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