Richa Ghosh happy to follow footsteps of Smriti Mandhana after series win vs WI
India’s Richa Ghosh won the player of the match award as the hosts thrashed West Indies by 60 runs in the final T20I of the series. India won the decider courtesy of some sensational batting from the Indian unit. In the post match presentation, Ghosh credited stand-in captain Smriti Mandhana setting the stage for the Indian batters to fire.
On Thursday, December 19, playing at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, Richa Ghosh hit the joint-fastest fifty in the women’s T20Is. Richa went berserk against the Windies side and hit 3 fours and 5 sixes. Richa broke Smriti Mandhana’s record to become the fastest half-centurion in WT20I by an Indian. Mandhana had held the record for nearly 5 years now. She had slammed her half-century in 24 balls against New Zealand in February 2019.
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Richa’s sensational innings combined with Mandhana’s fireworks at the top meant that India registered the biggest total in the WT20Is. The Indian team scored 217 runs from their 20 overs, after losing 4 wickets. Smriti Mandhana started the assault at the top, with 77 off just 47 balls. After Mandhana got out, Jemimah Rodrigues (39 off 28), Raghvi Bist (31* off 22) and Richa Ghosh (54* off 21 balls) stole the show. India hit a total of 7 sixes, 5 of which came off Richa’s bat. The explosive wicketkeeper-batter got out in the penultimate ball of the final over, trying to hit a six against Aaliyah Alleyne.
After the match, Richa credited Mandhana for setting the stage for the rest of the Indian batters.
“We got a good start today. The way Mandhana played, I just continued to do that. I play in the same way in the nets. I like to hit the ball when it is in the slot. Feels good as all of us contributed to the team’s victory. Happy with my contribution too,” Richa said.
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Mandhana on the other hand hailed India’s maiden T20I series victory at home in 5 years. She said that the team was aware of the record and want to push themselves to win the bilateral series.
“It’s been five years we haven’t won a T20I series in India. That was the chat earlier in the day. We had the chance to do it after 5 years. Need to keep doing the right things now. With the kind of batting line-up, we have some new youngsters. So need to take responsibility. More than timing the ball, I try to put my head into playing according to the situation. Liked the way Richa Ghosh batted. Girls stepped up today, they played with a lot of intent. I wouldn’t have been able to that,” Mandhana said after the match.
