Harmanpreet Kaur was full of praise for Richa Ghosh and even floated the idea of using her as an opener after her impactful cameo against Pakistan. On Sunday, June 14, Richa starred with a blistering 34 off 17 balls, including five fours and a six, as India won by 64 runs at Edgbaston in Birmingham to begin their Women’s T20 World Cup campaign on a high.
Batting at No.6, Richa provided the late-innings surge India needed, shifting momentum with her fearless stroke play. Harmanpreet admitted that, if it were up to her, she would have loved to promote Richa to the top of the order. However, she also clarified that Richa has a defined role in the middle order, and the team is satisfied with the impact she continues to deliver in that position.
“If it’s in my hand, I would love to send her on the first ball. But I think she has some role to play and she’s doing really well and really happy the way she played today,” Harmanpreet said after the match.
HOW RICHA DOMINATED PAKISTAN
Richa produced a match-defining cameo against Pakistan, turning momentum India’s way with a fearless display of power-hitting in the middle and death overs. She began with intent from the moment she arrived at the crease, announcing herself with a crisp boundary off Sadia Iqbal, backing away and cutting square past point with authority.
From there, Richa only grew in confidence, taking on the spinners and seamers alike. Against Tasmia Rubab, she unleashed her range, swivelling for a powerful pull, slicing a thick edge over backward point, and then clearing long-on with a clean six that lifted India’s scoring rate dramatically. She followed it up with more boundaries through cover and mid-wicket, ensuring Pakistan’s bowlers were forced onto the defensive.
Even when Nashra Sandhu tried to slow things down with clever variations, Richa showed composure, rotating strike and waiting for the loose balls. At the death, she added further impact with a mix of aggressive strokes and controlled improvisation, including a swept boundary and a couple of well-judged runs under pressure.
Her innings eventually ended when Fatima Sana’s clever leg-cutter beat her swing and crashed into off stump in the final over. But by then, Richa had already done the damage, injecting late momentum and pushing India well past a par total with her explosive, game-changing cameo.
– Ends
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