Captain Harmanpreet Kaur struck a magnificent century in the third One Day International against England, finding her form at a crucial time ahead of the upcoming World Cup.
Finding Form Just in Time
Before this match, Harmanpreet Kaur had been enduring a challenging period with the bat. Her scores in the preceding T20I series and the first two ODIs were uncharacteristically low.
With the ODI World Cup on the horizon, the Indian skipper was keen to spend quality time at the crease and regain her rhythm. She delivered spectacularly in the final game of the tour, smashing a sensational hundred at Chester-le-Street.
A Masterclass Unfolds
Harmanpreet arrived at the crease with India at 81/2 in the 18th over. She displayed her renowned patience, taking her time to get her eye in against a disciplined English attack, including a miserly spell from Sophie Ecclestone.
Her innings followed a typical pattern: a cautious beginning, followed by steady acceleration through the middle overs, and a powerful finish. She started with 0 runs off 10 balls before finding her touch with a series of elegant cover drives.
Accelerating to a Milestone
By the time Ecclestone finished her spell in the 34th over, Harmanpreet was well-set on 39 off 48 balls. This solid base allowed her to unleash her full repertoire of shots.
The acceleration was swift. Her next 50 runs came off just 28 balls, bringing up her century in a mere 82 deliveries. This made it the fastest of her seven hundreds in the ODI format.
Showcasing Her Batting Range
This century was a brilliant exhibition of Harmanpreet’s versatility around the ground. While her sweep shot is often her go-to, this innings saw a more balanced approach.
She hit eight fours on the offside, a notable shift from her usual preference for the leg-side. Cuts and drives were perfectly timed, showing a conscious effort to play with a straighter bat and expand her scoring areas.
Meeting Team Objectives
Harmanpreet had previously stated the team’s goal of consistently scoring over 300 runs in ODI cricket to provide bowlers with a “cushion.” Her innings was instrumental in achieving this benchmark.
She forged a vital 110-run partnership off just 77 balls with Jemimah Rodrigues, who also contributed a boundary-filled fifty. This strong finish, capped off by Richa Ghosh, propelled India to a formidable total of 318/5.
- Harmanpreet Kaur scored her seventh ODI century, her fastest at 82 balls.
- This was her third ODI century in England, equaling her record in India.
- Her innings helped India achieve their goal of consistently scoring over 300 runs.
- She displayed an expanded shot selection, hitting more boundaries on the offside.
This timely century provides a massive confidence boost for Harmanpreet and the entire Indian squad as they fine-tune their preparations for the upcoming ODI World Cup.
