#2 Middle order partnerships
The reflex action for a team who lost both their openers quickly is to take a cautious approach and build partnerships. And the Indian team did exactly that.
Last match’s centurion Punam Raut lost her wicket after adding just four runs to the board while Smriti Mandhana lost her wicket to yet another fullish delivery four overs later. Two experienced customers in Mithali and Kaur weathered the early storm then and paced their partnership beautifully to create a launch pad for the rest of the batting line-up.
While looking to up the ante, the 28-year-old Punjabi batswoman lost her wicket after scoring a 90-ball-60. Though the innings was a bit slow by her standards, it was precisely what was needed in such a crunch situation of a crucial game.
NZ made a sort of comeback then and removed Deepti Sharma in the next over itself. However, in walked Veda Krishnamurthy and changed the complexion of the game, adding quick-fire 108 runs in just 13 overs with the skipper.
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