Result that does not speak well of the Indians' confidence level

It was a sad day for India in the CricInfo Women's World Cup at Christchurch today as India caved in without as much as a semblance of a fight. It was not the margin of defeat (74 runs) as much the manner in which they capitulated that disappointed many Indian and cricket fans that had turned out in fairly large numbers for this encounter between India and hosts New Zealand. Only one word can best describe the Indian defeat - capitulation, complete, early and easy.

Nothing went well for India on this crucial day when a victory would have been a big morale booster and would have augured well for the semi-finals where an India-New Zealand clash seems most likely. Fielding first on losing the toss, India were without the services of their most prolific scorer, Mithali Raj, still down with a viral fever. Sunita Kanojia stepped in for her in the playing eleven, which was the only good move India made for the whole day.

Batting first on winning the toss, New Zealand were bogged down and at one stage the score read a dismal 34 for two. But the experienced Debbie Hockley and opener Anna O'Leary took the score to a comfortable 126 before the former departed. Hockley incidentally became the first woman cricketer to complete 4,000 runs in one-day games with her 53. New Zealand made 61 runs off the first 25 overs but belted 163 runs off the next 25 overs.

The entry of Haidee Tiffen changed the complexion of the game dramatically. She started off on a wrong note giving a catch to Smitha Harikrishna off David before opening her account that was floored. From then on, she virtually dominated the game and added 98 runs for the fourth wicket with O'Leary who churned out some better strokes after the advent of Tiffen. The Indian fielding wilted like it had never before in this competition and as many as three chances were let off of O'Leary. One's became two's and two's got converted into three's. The fielding lapses against Australia paled into insignificance compared to the mistakes in this match.

But Tiffen emerged as one of a rare breed; the type that likes to carry the fire into the opponent's camp which she did most effectively. The game of women's cricket needs more players of her type to enliven the proceedings and bring the paying spectators to the matches. The approach of the New Zealand opener Rebecca Ross also was very positive but she departed early due to a superb catch by Smitha Harikrishna.

Sunita Kanojia bowled well but bowled against the breeze. Renu Margaret, in the eye of the storm ostensibly due to a suspect bowling action, was a shadow of her normal self today with the pressure of being the cynosure of all becoming too much to bear. But the only redeeming feature for India in the New Zealand innings was the return to form of left arm spinner Neetu David who turned out an impressive performance with the ball.

India started disastrously losing Anjum Chopra early due to a run out. Skipper Anju Jain and Purnima Rau did not last long and it was left to Chanderkanta Kaul to resurrect the Indian innings with help from Smitha Harikrishna. The pair took the score from 39 for three to 90 before Smitha left. And the strangest part of the Indian innings unfolded after that. The Indians gave up the run chase and the fluently stroking Kaul also went into a shell, possibly on account of instructions from inside. There was no sense of urgency and it looked that the Indians had given up the chase and meandered to 111 for seven.

It is inexplicable as to why Rupanjali Shastri, who virtually single handedly won the game against England, was sent out to bat at No.9 and it was only after her advent that India once again started making an effort to increase their run tally. Kaul, who has been the most consistent of the Indians with scores of 13*, 45, 39* and 28 in this competition, finally got a well-deserved half century and remained unbeaten. The tactic adopted by India, of pulling their shutters down even when they were in with a chance, does not speak well of the confidence level. Also it speaks volumes of lack of support to the team by the think tank!! The match eventually turned out to be a damp squib due to this approach.