Former India all-rounder Shobha Pandit-Mundkur hails veteran pacer who restricted England batswomen with her 3-23 in yesterday's World Cup final
India pacer Jhulan Goswami celebrates an England wicket during the ICC Women’s World Cup final at Lord's yesterday. PIC/BIPIN PATEL
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Former India all-rounder Shobha Mundkur (nee Pandit) felt pacer Jhulan Goswami's performance against England in the Women's World Cup final at Lord's yesterday was vital in reducing England to 228 for seven.
However, England ended up winning by nine runs as India were bowled out for 219.
Despite a not-so-responsive Lord's pitch, India's leading bowler shouldered the responsibility to take three important wickets, giving away only 23 runs. Her 10-over spell included three maidens.
Shobha Mundkur
Business as usual
"As usual, Jhulan maintained a fine line and length in a very good spell. She did full justice to her role as the senior-most member of the team and her effort was a remarkable one which resulted in three important wickets (Sarah Taylor, Natalie Sciver and Fran Wilson), Shobha told mid-day
yesterday.
"I would have liked them to restrict England to 200. A score around that region would have given our girls more confidence, but they definitely restricted England in fine fashion. The manner in which the middle order batswomen were going, I thought they would get 250, but then Jhulan applied the brakes on them," said Shobha.
The former Maharashtra cricketer also praised the spinners. "Off-spinner Deepti Sharma (0-39) bowled a good line and length along with leg-spinner Poonam Yadav (2-36) and left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad (1-49). "I thought captain Mithali could have introduced her spinners earlier in the innings because pacer Shikha Pandey was not getting her line and length right. This could have made a difference because our spinners bowled well. On the other hand, I am sure Mithali knew what she was doing and may have wanted to save the spinners for later," said Shobha.
'Remember the coaches'
The former Test player stressed that credit for the boost women's cricket has received must also go to the players' individual coaches. "Yes, the girls have been well supported by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, but they have also been blessed with wonderful individual coaches, who guided them to the international stage. It is only after that the team coach brings about a collective effort," said Shobha whose autobiography Beyond Boundaries was released during the 2013 World Cup.
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