"She tries to do more than she has to" - WV Raman lauds Smriti Mandhana's knock against West Indies in the Women's World Cup 2022

WV Raman has showered praise on Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur for their enterprising knocks in Team India's convincing win against the West Indies in the Women's World Cup 2022.

Mandhana scored 123 runs off just 119 deliveries in a knock studded with 13 fours and two sixes. Harmanpreet was an able ally for the southpaw as she smashed 109 runs off 107 balls.

During a discussion on Star Sports, WV Raman was asked about Smriti Mandhana's knock. He responded:

"I always felt that she tries to really surpass herself, she tries to do more than she has to but here she didn't get into that mode. She was looking to respond, she was calm and a few boundaries first up always set the tone for her and makes her calm."

The Women in Blue's former coach highlighted that Mandhana hitting a few boundaries early in her innings helped her cause. Raman explained:

"We have seen her, if she doesn't get boundaries initially, she might tend to play some rash shots and get out. That didn't happen today, she carried on, it was a fabulous innings."

The flying start provided by Yastika Bhatia to the Indian innings would have also allowed Mandhana to take her time to get settled in the middle. The 21-year-old youngster smoked 31 runs off 21 deliveries in an opening partnership of 49 runs with Mandhana.

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"It was long overdue" - WV Raman on Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur's partnership

Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana shared the Player of the Match award [P/C: Twitter/BCCI Women]

WV Raman was also asked about Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur's partnership. He replied:

"It was long overdue, these two contributing in a big way. It was round the corner, everybody got that feeling and the way they played together, using their feet well, working the ball around and they were very decisive."

The former India opener added that the duo were also helped by the largesse of the West Indian bowlers and fielders. Raman elaborated:

"They realized that in the mid overs they are going to milk the bowling, get a lot of singles and of course, the West Indies bowlers were making a lot of mistakes in terms of providing chances on the field and also providing a lot of opportunities to score boundaries."

Raman concluded by lauding Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur for pacing their innings immaculately. He observed:

"It was because of the pressure these two put on the West Indies bowlers. They have been defending, this is the first time they have bowled first and against two free-stroking batters, which means the pressure was on them and full marks to Smriti and Harmanpreet Kaur, the way they paced the innings and stitched the partnership."

The 184-run stand between Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur in Saturday's encounter is the highest ever partnership between an Indian pair in the history of the Women's World Cup. The duo got together when the Indian eves were in a slight spot of bother at a score of 78/3. Their innings not only steadied the ship but also helped India post their maiden score above 300 runs in a World Cup encounter.