Indian star Jemimah Rodrigues put on a stellar fielding display in the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup opening match against New Zealand on Friday, October 4, earning her the ‘Fielder of the Match’ award. The match, held at the Dubai International Stadium, saw Rodrigues stationed in the deep, where she reinforced her reputation as one of India’s top fielders.
India’s fielding performance had a rocky start, with misfields from Renuka Singh Thakur and a dropped catch by Richa Ghosh allowing New Zealand’s Suzie Bates an early reprieve. However, the team’s fielding improved significantly as the match progressed, with Smriti Mandhana and Shreyanka Patil taking key catches in the deep after the powerplay.
Rodrigues was a key part of India’s fielding resurgence, making crucial stops that limited New Zealand’s runs. Recognizing her efforts, India’s fielding coach Munish Bali commended the team for bouncing back after the initial errors. Bali then invited team captain Harmanpreet Kaur to announce the ‘Fielder of the Match’ award, which went to Rodrigues.
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Rodrigues was also India’s second-highest scorer during their run chase, contributing 13 runs off 11 balls. Unfortunately, India’s efforts with the bat fell short, as they were bowled out for 102 in 19 overs, losing the match to New Zealand by 58 runs.
New Zealand posted a formidable 160/4 in their 20 overs, capitalizing on early Indian misfields and pushing the Women in Blue into a corner from the outset. India’s loss has impacted their net run rate, which now stands at -2.900, adding pressure to their upcoming matches.
India, who were considered slight favorites against New Zealand due to the latter’s recent 10-match losing streak, struggled to match their opponent’s aggressive play. The defeat leaves the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side with four matches remaining in Group A, with their next challenge being against Pakistan on Sunday, October 6.
Rodrigues’ individual brilliance in the field may have been a highlight, but India will need a collective team effort to bounce back in the tournament and keep their hopes of advancing alive.
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