The biggest global event in our sport is here. On some slow, turning and challenging tracks, here’s what our MI girls have been up to for their respective countries. Let’s go country-wise for a change, shall we?

INDIA: A false start, and then a solid recovery

After a bit of a shock defeat in India’s first game against New Zealand, Kaptaan Kaur took the mantle upon herself to get the campaign back on track for the Women in Blue. Against arch rivals Pakistan, in a tricky chase of 105, with the team in a spot of bother at 80/4, she dropped anchor, made sure there were no further hiccups, and steered the side home. Sadly, she pulled her neck right the end, and we really hope it was just a pull and nothing serious!

Pooja Vastrakar bowled just the one over against New Zealand, while Sajana Sajeevan had the good fortune of being out there and hitting the winning runs, a lovely cover drive for a boundary nonetheless, after Harman walked off owing to injury.

******

NEW ZEALAND: A massive upset pulled off!

In the one game they played thus far, New Zealand caused a fair bit of a stir, humbling the favourites, India, and Aapli Mumbai-Kerr played a big role in strangling the Indian chase with a spell of 1/19 in her four overs. She wasn’t her usual fluent self with the bat though, scoring 13 off 22 balls, but come the game against Australia, trust her to tick that box as well.

****** 

SOUTH AFRICA: A walk in the park over the Windies

With a thumping ten-wicket win over the West Indies in their opening game, they’ve done well to boost up their net run-rate and stake a solid claim for a semi-final spot. Chloe Tryon and her left-arm spin was one again at its stingiest best, going under a-run-a-ball in her four-over spell.

******

WEST INDIES: A thumping loss, a thumping win

What South Africa did to them, they did to Scotland. After suffering a ten-wicket loss, they turned the tide and their NRR with a chase inside 11.4 overs. Queen Hayley Matthews set the tone early with the ball, getting the wicket of the Scottish opener, and keeping them to just 99 with a spell of 1/21 before marshalling her troops around clinically.