Last Updated on 3 hours ago by Charbel Coorey
Punam Raut believes India’s best chance to beat Australia is to make a 200+ score batting first. Raut, who has 112 international caps across formats, has urged the team to go all guns blazing in a crunch match against the high-flying Aussies, which will be a do-or-die encounter if South Africa beat Bangladesh earlier in the day.
Raut admitted India’s bowling has lacked punch in this tournament. Also, the fielding has left plenty to be desired, which puts more pressure on the batters to deliver.
I think Harmanpreet will perform – Punam Raut
“Australia is a very strong team. We have a 50 per cent chance and will have to play extremely well to beat them. If we bat first, we should score 200 at least,” Raut said, as quoted by mid-day.com.
“We need to put up an extraordinary performance with the bat because, looking at our bowling, we are conceding runs too easily, the only exception being [left-arm spinner] N Shree Charini [12 wickets at an economy rate of 5.31].”
Australia are unbeaten in this World Cup with a number of players delivering. Ellyse Perry is in fine touch, while star batter Phoebe Litchfield is set to play against India. Raut has called for a big innings from Harmanpreet Kaur to beat a strong team. The captain is enduring a lean run in this campaign, with 85 runs at an average of 28.33 and strike rate of 160.25.
“For almost four or five games now Harman hasn’t got a performance with the bat yet. Everyone has been expecting her to click with the bat, and now, with just one [league] game left, she will have to play an important knock, said Raut.
“I think she will perform. She’s a big-match player. I have seen her play against big teams. She might just come out stronger against Australia.”
Smriti Mandhana echoed those thoughts. Speaking in the pre-match press conference, India’s opening batter revealed the team will employ an aggressive approach against an in-form team.
“It’s a big game obviously. We’ve all spoken a lot about how we really want to be playing the aggressive brand of cricket and that’s something which we’ll all look to do tomorrow,” Mandhana said.
