Richa Ghosh criticizes Harmanpreet Kaur, she backs Team India’s top-order, says…

Despite playing on a rather easy-paced track, India’s top batters failed to fire for the third successive time in the World Cup as the team lost by three wickets to South Africa here on Thursday.

The side was reeling at 102 for six after Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues fell in quick succession. Ghosh (94) then repaired the innings in the company of tail-end batters to take India to 251, but South Africa scaled the target in a tense chase.

“First, about the top order — they’re all very good players. One match doesn’t define them. Anything can happen in cricket; it’s our job to do our best every time. You can’t always put the blame on the top order,” said Ghosh in the post-match press conference. “Secondly, we never gave up on the match — we played till the last ball and tried to get as many runs as possible.

“I think the turning point came in Kranti’s over — that one six and one four she (Nadine de Klerk) hit really changed the momentum. Otherwise, everything was under control. We kept playing good shots till the end,” she added.

“We’ll sit down and review — see what went well, where we can improve, and how we can keep learning every day. There’ll be a meeting for that. One game won’t change our mindset. “We’ll plan things step by step during practice sessions and stay positive. Whatever lessons we got from this match, we’ll carry them forward,” she noted.

With PTI Inputs.