Mumbai: Speaking exclusively on Amul Cricket Live, JioHotstar, Mithali Raj shared her thoughts on Grace Harris’ hat-trick and overall performance of UP Warriorz: “Every time Grace Harris is brought in to bowl, she seems to have a golden arm. In the last encounter between these two teams (UP Warriorz and Delhi Capitals), she dismissed Meg Lanning in the very first over, and today, she delivered a hat-trick. I expected her to bowl the final over, but a hat-trick was unexpected. There were many positives for UP Warriorz, and that is exactly what a team needs when chasing their first win and first points on the board. We anticipated strong performances across the squad, from batters like Chinelle Henry to bowlers like Grace Harris and Kranti Goud. Both bowlers delivered impressive performances.”
Commenting further on Grace Harris, Mithali Raj said: “Grace Harris is an exceptionally smart bowler. She dismissed Annabel Sutherland in her very first over, and then, in the final over of the innings, she secured a hat-trick. She understands her craft well, using variations like drifters and quicker deliveries to great effect. While she doesn’t bowl regularly for Australia, whenever she is given the ball, she delivers crucial breakthroughs”
Speaking exclusively on Amul Cricket Live, JioHotstar, Mithali Raj commented on Kranti Goud’s performance, particularly her dismissal of Meg Lanning: “I believe that was the ball of the day. In fact, we saw a similar dismissal in the first innings, with Arundhati Reddy getting out in a similar manner by Shweta Sehrawat. As a batter, when a ball is pitched on that line, it’s difficult to judge, so I don’t blame Meg Lanning for her reaction—it was one of those ‘What just happened?’ moments. That said, dismissals like these can go either way, especially with some grass on the surface. But since then, Kranti Goud has bowled exceptionally well, particularly against batters like Jemimah Rodrigues and Shafali Verma. Out of her four wickets, the dismissals of Meg Lanning, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Shafali Verma were crucial, considering Delhi Capitals’ strong batting lineup. It’s evident that she came into the game well-prepared, understanding her lines and areas of attack. Her performance today was a testament to her planning and execution.”
Speaking exclusively on Amul Cricket Live, JioHotstar, Mithali Raj reflected on Delhi Capitals’ performance:”This match once again highlights Delhi Capitals’ heavy reliance on their top order, particularly their opening pair. In matches where Shafali Verma provides a strong start or Meg Lanning plays a long innings, the team tends to win. However, in today’s game, with neither of them making an impact, the result speaks for itself. Jemimah Rodrigues’ half-century was a significant positive. It’s great for her form, and Delhi Capitals will take that as an encouraging sign. However, the depth in their batting lineup doesn’t quite reflect the kind of firepower they should have. They missed a big-hitter like Chinelle Henry for UP Warriorz today, someone who could have played the kind of explosive innings that was needed at the time.”
Speaking exclusively on Amul Cricket Live, JioHotstar, Mithali Raj praised Chinelle Henry’s approach to batting: “She backed herself to play those aggressive shots. At that stage, with six or seven wickets already down, she knew there was nothing to lose. She decided to go big and play her natural game, showcasing that signature West Indian flair for hitting big sixes.”
Speaking exclusively on Amul Cricket Live, JioHotstar, Natalie Germanos analysed Jemimah Rodrigues’ innings: “That was a wonderful innings to watch. We’ve often spoken about how her game has evolved and how much she has matured over time. This was a perfect example of that growth. In the past, she has sometimes been guilty of throwing her wicket away, which could be frustrating because of her immense talent. However, in recent years, she has shown a shift in approach, taking greater responsibility in her innings. Some of the shots she played through the offside today were brilliant. They were also brave, given the challenging situation her team was in. To take the risk of going over the top in such a high-pressure scenario was commendable. It was courageous cricket, and I thoroughly enjoyed watching that innings.”
