‘The collapse started from me’: Smriti Mandhana takes blame after India’s heartbreaking loss to England in Women’s World Cup

 India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana took responsibility for the team’s heartbreaking four-run loss to England in the Women’s World Cup here, admitting her dismissal triggered the batting collapse and that their shot selection “could have been better“.

Set a target of 289, India appeared well on course with opener Mandhana (88) stitching two crucial partnerships, 125 with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and 67 with Deepti Sharma, while anchoring the chase.

But her mistimed lofted shot to long-off opened the floodgates, as Richa Ghosh drilled one straight to cover, and then, Deepti miscued a slog as India lost crucial wickets to fall agonisingly short of their target.

“I think everyone’s shot selections at that time – we could have done better with our shot selections. Especially it started from me, so I will take it on me, that the shot selection should have been better,” Mandhana said at the post-match press conference on Sunday.

“We just needed six (runs) per over. Maybe we should have taken the game deeper. I’ll take it on myself because the collapse started from me.”

The left-hander said emotions got the better of her as she deviated from her own plan of avoiding aerial strokes.

“I thought I could take her on. I was trying to aim more over covers. I mistimed that shot. Maybe the shot wasn’t needed at that time. I just needed to be more patient because, throughout the innings, I was trying to tell myself to be patient and not to play aerial shots.

“Maybe the emotions took over for that one, which never helps in cricket. But, walking back, I was pretty confident that we’ll be able to get the win, but it’s cricket, you can’t ever think too ahead.“

With PTI Inputs.

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