Harmanpreet Kaur stole the show with a magnificent 103 off 51 balls as India stormed to a 34-run win over New Zealand in the Women’s World T20 encounter in Providence, Guyana on Friday.
Kaur’s effort made her only the third woman player and first Indian to score a century in the World T20. Her knock included seven fours and eight towering sixes, but speaking in the post-match presentation, Kaur revealed the secret behind the big hits.
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“In the morning, I was not feeling well, when I came to the ground I was feeling a little low and getting some cramps. Yesterday, I was having little bit back problem,” Kaur revealed.
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In the 11th over of the Indian innings, Kaur was feeling her mid-riff and the physio had to attend to her. After a slow start, combined with the injury, Kaur turned on her aggressive mode as she blasted 82 runs in just 31 balls.
“When initially I was running twos, I got a little cramp, after that the physio gave me medicine, and a little bit it settled down. Then I thought instead of running too much, if I could I get more big shots ? Because you run too much, you get more cramps. Then I told Jemi (Jemimah Rodrigues), 'if you give the strike to me, I can go for more big shots’,” Kaur said.
Kaur’s 103 continued her love affair for big knocks on the grand stage. In the 2017 World Cup semi-final against Australia, the Indian skipper blasted 171 off 115 balls in what was a magical knock that helped India reach the final.
India’s next game in the 2018 World T20 is against Pakistan on Sunday at Providence, Guyana.