India opener Smriti Mandhana on Monday termed her match-winning knock of 87 runs against Ireland in the Women’s T20 World Cup match here on Monday as one of the most difficult innings she has ever faced. Smriti’s 56-ball innings was studded with nine fours and three sixes on a pitch where other batsmen were struggling to score runs. This is his best innings in T20 International. India won the rain-affected match by five runs using the Duckworth-Lewis method to book their third consecutive semi-final berth.
Smriti, who was adjudged the player of the match, said at the award ceremony, “This is one of my most difficult innings till now. The pitch was difficult but the speed at which they were bowling and the strong wind made the conditions more challenging. Try and maintain your rhythm. I was having trouble scoring runs in the beginning.
She too was not able to hit the shot with the right timing.” Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur also praised Smriti saying, “Smriti scored runs which was very important for us. Whenever she gives a good start to the team, we end up getting big scores.
