Women’s T20 World Cup: Indian middle-order needs to fire

There are talks now here in England of a 1976 style summer. It was so hot, riverbeds and taps dried up.

There is a heatwave now, too, with warnings of extreme heat. All that didn’t stop the Women in Blue from sweating out for hours at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

Smriti Mandhana played more of her pleasing shots, than the ungainly one that cost her — and India — dear against South Africa on the very ground on Sunday. The bowlers attempted to hit the stumps, and succeeded.

They should be able to do more in the upcoming matches, which India cannot afford to lose. After that disappointing defeat to the Proteas, Harmanpreet Kaur’s women are not in an enviable position when it comes to clinching a place in the semifinals from the Group of Death.

Australia, which has played some expectedly dominant cricket, is almost there. The South Africans, after scoring what was their fifth win in the last six T20Is against India, should be less nervous than India, as they have already played — and lost to — Australia and have lesser weights as opponents in the group stage. The Indians, on the other hand, will play Australia in the last league match.

But, before that, they have to think about the match against Bangladesh here on Thursday.

And there are areas of concern. Like the middle-order, for instance.

Smriti and Shafali Verma have given good starts. Even against South Africa, they were shaping up nicely, until Smriti played that forgettable shot against Marizanne Kapp.

Down the order, Richa Ghosh continues to be one of the most feared batters. She has handled the pressure of being the only finisher rather well.

But, the space between the openers and Richa is not a very happy one. The likes of Jemimah Rodrigues and the captain herself have to bat a bit deeper. Given the fact that this Indian side doesn’t have as many quality all-rounders like Australia, the middle-order needs to do more.

When it comes to bowling, Shree Charani needs more support, especially after the unfortunate injury to Shreyanka Patil.