India opener Shafali Verma was delighted with her return to form after producing a match-winning half-century against Bangladesh in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup at Old Trafford on Thursday, though she admitted she would have been happier had she remained unbeaten.
Shafali was named Player of the Match after blasting 53 off 34 balls, laced with eight fours and a six, as India chased down 137 in just 16.5 overs to register a comfortable five-wicket win. Her 29-ball fifty powered India to their highest-ever powerplay score in Women’s T20 World Cup history and laid the platform for a straightforward chase.
“Very happy with the way I batted today. But if I am out there, that will make me so happy. But yeah, good confidence today and so happy I can grab some runs,” Shafali said after the match.
Chasing 137, India adopted a simple approach with the bat, according to the opener.
“Nothing much, just backing our batting. Just whatever loose ball will come, we’ll just go for the four or maybe six, or otherwise we’ll go for one run. So it’s just a normal talk, not a different thing,” she said.
Shafali looked in complete control throughout her innings and said her focus was on sticking to the basics rather than overcomplicating things.
“Just try to choose the right ball. Whatever comes in my zone, just go for that. Otherwise, take a single. It’s just a very simple thing, but sometimes it’s complicated a lot. But I just talked to myself a lot this time, and yeah, it’s going good and so happy for that,” she said.
Despite anchoring the chase, Shafali was left disappointed by her dismissal after being stumped in the ninth over.
“Of course, sad. The way I got out, as I said earlier, if I am not out, that will be happier for me,” she added.
The opener also spoke about contributing with the ball during the tournament, crediting captain Harmanpreet Kaur for giving her confidence whenever she is called upon to bowl.
“In the nets, I used to bowl with the new ball and with the old ball. Sometimes I laugh a lot, but in the end, whatever the team needs, I’m there for that. And thanks to Harman, she always gives me a lot of confidence when I bowl and gives me a very good field set. So just thanks to her,” Shafali said.
Earlier, India produced a disciplined bowling display to restrict Bangladesh to 136/8. Captain Nigar Sultana top-scored with 32, while opener Juairiya Ferdous made 33.
Radha Yadav starred with the ball, claiming 3/28, while Shree Charani took two wickets to become the first Indian woman to claim 12 wickets in a single edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup.
India then completed the chase comfortably, with Yastika Bhatia and Jemimah Rodrigues providing valuable support after Shafali’s explosive start.