Mithali’s comments fired us to perform better: Brunt

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After notching up a convincing 32-run victory over India, England pacer Katherine Brunt said it was Indian skipper Mithali Raj’s comments on their bowling attack that charged them up to perform better during their Group A ICC women’s World Cup here today.

“Mithali’s comments fired us up to be honest. We were already up for this game but once those comments were made, we were up even more,” Brunt said at the post match conference after England beat India by 32 runs.

“I think that gave fuel to the fire, and we did a decent job at the start and Holly (Colvin) showed us what spinner can do when they work hard and tie batters down in the middle there. Everybody has made a contribution and if Mithali was wondering I was the only bowler then it is hard to explain the other 4-5 good bowlers out there today,” she added.

Yesterday, Indian women’s team captain Raj had said, “I think England has got a very good batting line up but I don’t think they are very strong in their bowling attack other than Katherine Brunt. They heavily depend on her for the breakthroughs. We played England last year as well, most of our batsmen are comfortable playing their bowlers.”

Brunt today scalped four wickets for 29 runs in her five overs and Indian vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur felt her two wickets in two balls dented India’s hopes.

“I think the quick wickets by Katherine Brunt towards the end turned the match. Till the time Niranjana and Amita Sharma was there it seemed we could have caught up with the increasing run-rate. But then those wickets fell and then I felt it we lost it,” Kaur, who today scored her first century and became the second Indian player to score a century in a World Cup, said.

Chasing 273 to win, India slipped to 29 for three in 7.3 overs but Kaur said the initial breakthrough by the English bowlers did not give them an edge.

“It is not that after we lost three wickets, the game titled in England’s favour, we have quite a long batting order and we tried to spend time on the crease and pace our innings till the end,” she said.