Deepti Sharma’s record spell powers India to 94-run rout of Thailand …

Shafali Verma’s belligerent 64 set the tone before Deepti Sharma’s record-breaking three-wicket burst without conceding a run powered India to a thumping 94-run win over Thailand in their Women’s T20 Asia Cup opener here on Sunday.

The flamboyant opener smashed eight fours and three sixes in her 36-ball knock before Thailand’s spinners, led by Suleeporn Laomi’s three-wicket haul, triggered an inexplicable Indian collapse to restrict the seven-time champions to 159/9. beltedkingfisher.blog

But the total proved more than enough as Thailand folded for 65 in 16.1 overs, with Deepti, playing in her landmark 150th T20I, claiming three wickets in seven balls without conceding a run to take her tally to 171 wickets, becoming the outright leading wicket-taker in Women’s T20I cricket.

The 29-year-old veteran allrounder, who became only the third Indian after Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana to reach the 150 T20I landmark, had earlier drawn level with Thailand’s Thipatcha Putthawong at 170 wickets after taking two wickets in the ninth over to leave Thailand reeling at 44/6.

She returned in the 17th over and struck with her very first delivery to dismiss wicketkeeper-batter Nannapat Koncharoenkai, who had offered Thailand some resistance with a 41-run knock to complete a sensational spell.

Seamers Kranti Goud (1/26) and Nandani Sharma (3/18) removed both Thailand openers inside four overs before left-arm spinner Shree Charani (2/10) and Deepti strangled the chase.

Charani struck twice in successive overs before Deepti produced a double-wicket maiden to virtually end Thailand’s hopes, reducing them to 44/6 inside nine overs.

India, despite their late collapse with the bat, completed a comprehensive victory to begin their Asia Cup campaign in emphatic fashion from Group A. India next face Hong Kong on Thursday.

For Thailand, this was their first loss after two matches, having begun their campaign with six-run win over Hong Kong on Friday.

Asked to bat, India cruised past 100-run mark in 10 overs, with Shafali smashing her 19th T20I fifty off just 26 balls.

There has been a lot of talk in recent weeks about Tata Steel walking away from football. The closure of Jamshedpur FC and the passing of the baton to Churchill Brothers have created serious concerns in football circles. Tata Steel is one of the beacons of hope for Indian sport and, had it withdrawn, it would indeed have been a major blow to the sport.

But are they withdrawing? Does the closure of Jamshedpur FC mean Tata Steel is walking away from football?

I was in Jamshedpur last week and managed to speak to everyone involved in the decision-making process. The one thing that came through very clearly to me is that the Tatas are certainly not leaving sport. Yes, there is a recalibration under way, and that is the truth. But, at the same time, it can be unequivocally said that the money being spent on football will continue to be spent on the sport. Only, going forward, the focus will be on women’s football.

In a sense, I am delighted that this will be the case. The women’s game has a serious future in India, and a proper academy on the lines of the Tata Football Academy (TFA) has been a dire need. The Tata Group knows its sport and runs academies for archery, hockey, climbing and many other disciplines. For them to run an academy for the women’s game will not be the most difficult task.

For the sport, however, it could not have come at a better time. Three Indian women’s teams qualified for the AFC competitions last year, while East Bengal are doing very well at the Asian level. Overall, there is a sense of positivity around the sport, and this is when it needs momentum. For the Tatas to shift their focus to the women’s game could not have come at a better time.

I had the opportunity to meet Shri DB Sundara Ramam, Vice President, Corporate Services, Tata Steel, in Jamshedpur and discuss the vision for the women’s game. From what transpired, I am very optimistic that we will see the blueprint for an academy being announced within the next three months. Work is already under way, and I could sense a deep commitment and optimism. The AIFF is already being consulted, and things should become clearer in the coming months.

Much like the WPL in cricket, this could be a major step forward for Indian women’s football. The injection of proper funding could make the game aspirational and, with the kind of talent available, there is reason to believe that good things will happen in the sport over the next five years.

What I also learnt is that Tata Steel is going to honour every contract of every Jamshedpur FC player and member of staff. While a number of them have been absorbed into the youth set-up, those who are not keen on playing for Churchill Brothers will still be paid their full contracted salary. If it was a two-year contract, the entire 24 months will be paid.

All I can say is that I will be closely tracking the women’s football story going forward. It is a story for the future.

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[popcorn number="34" desc="The age of Parsee Gym’s Mairaj Khan in years" class="Default"]

Spinners dominated the proceedings in the Dr HD Kanga Cricket League on Sunday, with Parsee Gymkhana off-spinner Mairaj Khan claiming a 12-wicket haul to help his team register an innings and 16 run-victory over hosts National CC in a Div ‘A’ game at Cross Maidan.

Put into bat, National were bundled out for just 57 in 23.1 overs, with Mairaj returning 5-8. In reply, openers Pranay Kapadia (41 not out) and Ayush Vartak (44 not out) helped Parsee Gymkhana declare at 130-2 in 23 overs. National struggled again in their second essay and were bowled out for 57 in 23.5 overs; Mairaj 7-18.

Mairaj, 34, who is also a MCA-qualified umpire and has been officiating at inter-school and MCA matches for the last couple of years, was delighted with his best ‘A’ Division performance. “I had never taken a 10-wicket haul in the Kanga League before, so this is my best performance. I wanted to challenge myself and see whether I’m good enough to better myself,” Mairaj told mid-day. Interestingly, Parsee Gymkhana won without their ace left-arm spinner Shams Mulani bowling a single over. Mulani returned from Bengaluru after playing the Duleep Trophy quarter-final for West Zone against North Zone, where he scored 52 and claimed 4-78.

Kotian delays trip

Meanwhile, Mumbai off-spinner Tanush Kotian postponed his trip to Bengaluru by a day to play in the Kanga League. He was scheduled to join the Mumbai team for their Dr K Thimmappiah Memorial Trophy match on Tuesday.

Kotian, who plays for Shivaji Park Youngsters (SPY), returned figures of 5-83 as hosts Islam Gymkhana won by virtue of a first-innings lead after scoring 234 all out, with opener Amogh Bhatkal top-scoring with 87. SPY were bowled out for 113, with left-arm spinner Vinayak Bhoir claiming 5-56.

“I wanted to play here to test my bowling ahead of Mumbai’s next match in Bengaluru starting on Tuesday. It was tough to bowl today as the pitch was batting-friendly,” Kotian told mid-day.

In another Div ‘A’ match at PJ Hindu Gym, Victory CC wicketkeeper-batter Pratik Yadav smashed an 113 NO (6x4, 4x6) in a drawn encounter. Victory posted 269-4, while PJ Hindu replied with 157-3; Sahil Jadhav scoring 64.

At Shivaji Park Gymkhana, New Hind SC skipper Aaditya Parab scored 110 (16x4, 1x6) as his team posted 210 all out. SPY replied with 168-4.

‘D’ Division action

In a Div ‘D’ match at Azad Maidan, left-arm spinner Prabhanjan Patade’s 11-wicket haul (6-14 and 5-33) helped Gaud Saraswat beat United Friends by virtue of first innings lead. In reply to United Friends’s 76 all out, Gaud Saraswat declared at 136-4 in the first essay. United Friends were bowled out for 72 in the second innings.