Published: Feb 02, 2013, 10:35 AM (IST)
Edited: Feb 02, 2013, 10:35 AM (IST)
Thirush Kamini became the first Indian woman to score a hundred in the 50-over World Cup © AFP
Mumbai: Feb 2, 2013
India women’s captain Mithali Raj praised her openers Thirush Kamini and Poonam Raut who put on a record stand of 175 runs for the first wicket to propel India to a massive victory against West Indies in their first game in the ICC Women’s World Cup on Thursday.
“Definitely [it was a perfect start] because the way [M] Thirush [Kamini] batted and the partnership with Poonam [Raut] was very important. I am hoping that they will continue this against [other] good sides as well. It is very important, whether you bat or field, you need to have a good opening stand from your batters. […] And on a batting track, that’s what we expected, that they give us a good start so that the middle order can go and pile up more runs,” she said, as reported by bcci.tv
After the brilliant partnership at the top, Raj promoted Jhulan Goswami and Harmanpreet Kaur ahead of herself in the batting line-up.
Asked if India’s total of 285 was good enough, she said, “It is chaseable provided someone from the top order gets a hundred like Thriush Kamini got, or a couple a fifties. When you are chasing there, will definitely be pressure to maintain the run-rate.”
