World Cup 2022 | Report - Day 1 | Warm-ups
Written By: Ritwika Dhar
Date: 27-02-2022
Picture Courtesy: ICC
Match 1 – New Zealand vs Pakistan | Dar-Riaz sealed the deal for Pakistan
After winning the toss at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Pakistan opted to bowl first. Pakistan started well by dismissing both their openers within the first 4 overs. From 11/2, Kiwis bounced back and Amy Satterthwaite (80) and Maddy Green (58) put up a 3rd wicket partnership of 131 runs. In the middle-overs, Pakistan took a cluster of wickets. There was a late flourish from Hannah Rowe (20) and Jess Kerr’s (34*) bat. Eventually, Pakistan bundled them out for 229 with 5 overs remaining. Nashra Sandhu was the pick of the bowlers with 4/32.
New Zealand chose to rest the in-form batter, Amelia Kerr, during their batting innings.
Pakistan batters weaved some important partnerships throughout their chase. Sidra Amin (34) and Javeria Khan formed a 42-run 2nd wicket partnership. Then captain Bismah Maroof (28) and Omaima Sohail (31) also put up an important 45 runs together. But it was again, Pakistan’s two highest run-scorers from the last year, Nida Dar and Aliya Riaz who took them home with a mammoth 99- run partnership. Dar played a fine knock of 54 off 59, whereas Riaz sealed the deal for her team with her blistering knock of 62* off 52. Pakistan won by 4 wickets in the last over with 4 balls to spare.
Brief Scorecard:
New Zealand- 229 (45) A. Satterthwaite 80 (85), M. Green 58 (69); N. Sandhu 4/32 (10), F. Sana 2/38 (7)
Pakistan- 233/6 (49.2) A. Riaz 62* (52), N. Dar 54 (59); J. Kerr 2/30 (7), H. Jensen 1/15 (4)
Match 2 – Australia vs West Indies | All-round Perry steered Aussies through to a thumping victory
Australia were up against West Indies in the 2nd warm-up match of the day. West Indies won the toss and elected to field first. Both Aussie openers Healy (20) and Haynes (36) started well and put up a 50+ opening partnership. Despite skipper Lanning’s premature departure, Australian middle-order stood up well. All-rounder Perry (62), McGrath (40), and Sutherland (54) guided their team to a total of 259-7.
But the razor-sharp bowling attack of Australia was too much for the Windies batters to tackle. Other than skipper Stafanie Taylor and Hayley Matthews, no other batter could show any resistance. Taylor stood tall with her 66 off 86 balls. West Indies innings finished on 169-9 after 50 overs. Sutherland, McGrath, King, and Perry took 2 wickets each to clinch a 90-run victory.
Brief Scorecard:
Australia – 259/7 (50) E. Perry 62 (77), A. Sutherland 54 (37); S. Taylor 3/51 (10), A. Mohammed 2/45 (10)
West Indies – 169/9 (50) S. Taylor 66 (86), H. Matthews 24 (38); A. King 2/18 (7), E. Perry 2/6 (3)
Match 3 – India vs South Africa | Kaur’s staggering ton with Gayakwad’s 4-fer stifled the Proteas
In the 3rd warm-up game at Rangiora, South Africa won the toss and chose to field first. India fielded a new opening pair of Smriti Mandhana and Yastika Bhatia.
Smriti Mandhana was hit on the helmet by a Shabnim Ismail bouncer in the initial stage of the game. She was assessed by the team doctor following the incident and was originally declared fit to continue. But she decided to retire hurt an over and a half later after another consultation. Though she felt no concussion symptoms according to the medical staff, she left the ground as a precaution.
Another lefty Deepti Sharma came in to bat. But her stay didn’t last long and Mithali Raj’s wicket followed quickly via a runout. Harmanpreet Kaur came in to bat. She was going through a lean patch for the last 1 year. But she carried the confidence from her last match’s half-century and went on to score a scintillating century. Yastika also supported her well with her 58 off 78 and India finished their innings on 244-9. Ayabonga Khaka was the most successful with the ball with figures of 3/23.
It was going to be a test for the Indian bowlers against a well-oiled South African batting line-up who thrashed them last year in a bilateral series by 4-1. Wolvaardt (83) and captain Sune Luus (86) looked threatening with the bat. But India managed to take wickets at regular intervals. Almost 27 overs were bowled by their 4 pacers and they contained the runs pretty well. But again, it was India’s spinners who bossed the defense. In the last over, South Africa needed 9 runs. But they fell short of 2 runs after Gayakwad conceding just 6 and finishing with figures of 4/46 to ensure a win by 2 runs for India.
After the 50 overs quota, another thrilling contest was awaiting. The two sides played a mock Super Over. South Africa scored 9 runs in the Super Over against Meghna Singh which was chased down by India with 1 ball to spare courtesy of. Richa Ghosh and Harmanpreet Kaur.
Brief Scorecard:
India – 244/9 (50) H. Kaur 100+, Y. Bhatia 58 (78); A. Khaka 3/23 (7), C. Tryon 1/34 (8)
South Africa – 242/7 (50) S. Luus 86 (98), L. Wolvaardt 83 (95); R. Gayakwad 4/46 (10), M. Singh 1/40 (9.2)