CAPE TOWN: India would need to put up at least 180 on board to challenge the depth of the Australian batting line-up in the Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final, feels star keeper-batter Richa Ghosh.
Although India lost the five-match series 1-4 in December, the scoreline did not do justice to how hard the ‘Women in Blue’ pushed the world’s top-ranked team across the five games. And once again Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. are aiming to do the same.
“Australia is comfortable chasing because they bat deep, we do too, but toss is not in anyone’s hand. So whatever the situation, we will have to go through with it. We have plans,” Ghosh, India’s best finisher by a distance, said on the eve of the semi-finals against Southern Stars. We don’t know how the pitch will behave tomorrow but it looks nice. We can target 180 on this if all our batters click and while bowling we will try to restrict them to 140-150 because they have a good batting lineup,” Ghosh said.
In Ghosh, India has unearthed a much-needed finisher and the youngster hasn’t been disappointed.
Talking about her game, she said: “There are ups and downs always, even I had them but have learnt a lot from there, how you can handle a situation. When I go to bat, my handling of pressure has improved.”
Australia has been India’s bogey team in recent years but Ghosh is confident that Meg Lanning’s team is a beatable one. Australia has been a dominant force in the format since winning the last edition in 2020 at home.
In the last 22 months, Australia has lost just one T20I and that defeat came against India away from home via a Super Over. The five-time champions are unbeaten in the tournament so far, having won all their group-stage matches.
“Australia are beatable, in the our last series we beat them and we have also done it before. They are a strong team but we can beat them,” Ghosh stated.
“We are trying to improve our mindset. Everyone has the game but the team that is mentally strong will win. We have been working on that,” said Ghosh.
Having played in a five-match series in December, the U-19 World Cup-winning teenager said that India plans to exploit Australia’s weaknesses.
ALSO READ | T20 WC 2023: 18 years in making, India’s past paves way for present in South Africa
“We know the weak spot of Australia and we are planning against it but I will not say what that (weakness) is because then they will come prepared.”
The hard-hitting Ghosh, who has hit two half-centuries in the tournament and is the team’s leading run-scorer, said India will play an attacking game similar to Australia on Thursday.
ALSO READ | T20 World Cup: Mandhana guides India through wind and rain
“They attack a lot. So, whatever happens to them, even if the batter is out, they don’t leave the attacking. Because they have batters from top to bottom. We also have batter from top to bottom. So, we will play an attacking game. Ghosh feels beating Australia will be a “huge confidence booster” heading into the final.
“I only see the ball and try to play according to it, I don’t see who is bowling because if we start thinking that a top bowler is bowling then the nervousness creeps in,” she concluded.
Stay connected with us on social media platform for instant update click here to join our Twitter, & Facebook
We are now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@TechiUpdate) and stay updated with the latest Technology headlines.
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
Denial of responsibility! NewsAzi is an automatic aggregator around the global media. All the content are available free on Internet. We have just arranged it in one platform for educational purpose only. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, all materials to their authors. If you are the owner of the content and do not want us to publish your materials on our website, please contact us by email – [email protected]. The content will be deleted within 24 hours.
