India’s strong start and Harmanpreet’s authoritative innings in Vizag
In a crucial Women’s World Cup encounter at Vizag, India showed intent with a blistering opening stand that set up a commanding position against Australia. Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal stitched together a 150-run partnership, creating momentum and putting Australia under pressure from the outset. Mandhana, in excellent touch, crafted a fluent 80, while Rawal’s 75 provided the ballast that allowed India to accelerate before a late hiccup.
The Rawal-Mandhana stand: foundations of India’s innings
The early phase belonged to Mandhana, who rode an array of glorious drives and measured aggression to the boundary. Rawal complemented her in almost textbook fashion, rotating the strike and finding gaps with soft hands. The pair’s high-tempo start pushed India to a strong position, with the scoreboard ticking past 150 in the 24th over.
A crucial moment: Mandhana’s dismissal and India’s middle order impact
After an exceptional 80, Mandhana departed with the score well placed, and India hoped to carry the momentum deeper into the innings. The dismissal jolted the innings briefly, but Rawal stood tall and continued to anchor the innings. The crowd’s energy remained high as India navigated Australia’s pressure with steady hands at the crease.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s arrival and captaincy under pressure
With Harleen Deol at the crease and Harmanpreet Kaur waiting in the wings, India looked poised to accelerate. Harmanpreet’s presence often shifts the tempo, and this innings promised to reflect the captain’s intent to press the accelerator at the right moments. The fielding side, led by Alyssa Healy, faced a polished Indian middle order that had shown both technique and variation throughout the innings.
Key moments and turning points
21st-24th overs saw a flurry of boundaries and smart singles that kept Australia on the back foot. A notable moment came when India crossed the 150-run mark, signaling a total that would test Australia’s chase. The Australian bowlers, including Sophie Molineux, looked to break the stand, but India’s batters managed to keep the scoreboard moving with calculated aggression.
Australia’s response and India’s fielding plans
Alyssa Healy’s side had periods of control, yet India’s batters had already laid a strong platform. In the field, Australia was quick to react to close catches and the one difficult moment when a mis-timed shot threatened to derail the chase. The environment in Vizag remained electric, with a partisan crowd fueling India’s push for a memorable World Cup performance.
What this means for India’s campaign
With Mandhana’s big score and Rawal’s steady anchor, India displayed a balanced approach that can carry them deep into the tournament. Harmanpreet’s leadership, combined with Harleen Deol’s-entry at No. 3, offers a blueprint for finishing matches through intelligent shot selection and fearless strokeplay. As the World Cup progresses, this innings in Vizag will be recalled as a turning point where India demonstrated both resilience and flair.
Final thoughts
India’s display in Vizag sent a strong message to the rest of the field. The openers laid a foundation, Rawal anchored superbly, and Harmanpreet’s anticipated surge could be the spark India needs for a deep World Cup run. The next challenges will test India’s ability to convert starts into big totals and defend them on challenging pitches around the country.
