Buoyed by the comprehensive 105-run victory in their Group A opener against the West Indies, hosts India go with their tails up against jittery defending champions England in a crucial league game of the ICC Women's World Cup at the Brabourne Stadium on Sunday.
Everything fell in place for the Mithali Raj-led home team as they totally outplayed their counterparts from the Caribbean islands two days ago to register a thumping victory at the same venue to log two points.
A record opening wicket stand of 175 between India's first-ever World Cup centurion Murugesan Tirushkamini and Poonam Raut set up a huge total for the hosts to defend in style under lights, a day before Sri Lanka sent a shockwave by upsetting the apple cart of England with a last-ball, one-wicket win.
England, led by five-time Cupper Charlotte Edwards, are under tremendous pressure to save their stuttering campaign as a loss to India would almost certainly spell curtains for their hopes of winning back-to-back titles in the most important tournament for women.
The three-time winners and India have fought close bilateral rubbers in recent times with the latter winning 3-2 at home in 2009-10 and England winning the last rubber in their backyard by a similar margin after coming from 0-2 down.
In between England won a one-off game at Derby. But the way Lanka played and notched their first-ever win over England in nine ODIs, it must have given Mithali Raj's team a tremendous mental boost.
Putting more pressure on the 2009 Cup winners ahead of the game, Mithali termed England's bowling as "weak".
"I think England has a good batting side, but their bowling is weak. They depend on Katherine Brunt a lot. Last year we played England and our batters are comfortable playing their bowlers. We are well prepared," said the India captain.
As per the format, one team from the group is eliminated and a loss to India will dent England's hopes further if the West Indies beat Sri Lanka in the other game to be held concurrently at the MIG Club in Bandra.
Apart from Tirushkamini, who made 100 off 146 balls, and Poonam (72 off 94 balls), seasoned campaigner and former captain Jhulan Goswami and Harmanpreet Kaur smashed quick-fire 30s to help India build on the strong foundation laid by the openers against the West Indies.
A similarly strong batting performance cannot be ruled out against England whose bowling, barring spearhead Brunt who is the highest ranked bowler in the world, was disappointing against Sri Lanka.
Teams:
England: Charlotte Edwards (captain), Jenny Gunn (vice-captain), Tammy Beaumont, Arran Brindle, Katherine Brunt, Holly Colvin, Georgia Elwiss, Lydia Greenway, Danielle Hazell, Amy Jones, Heather Knight, Laura Marsh, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Taylor, Danielle Wyatt.
India: Mithali Raj (captain), Harmanpreet Kaur (vice-captain), Ekta Bisht, Amita Dass, Jhulan Goswami, Karuna Jain, Reema Malhotra, Mona Meshram, Thirushkamini Murugesan, Sulakshana Naik, Niranjan Nagarajan, Rasnara Parwin, Poonam Raut, Shubh Lakshmi Sharma, Gouher Sultana.
Photograph: ICC /Solaris Images
