Series: Americas World Cup Qualifiers Sep 2021
Venue: Reforma Athletic Club, Naucalpan
Format: T20I
Toss: USA
Result: USA by 42 runs
Not a Day for Batting
Tight bowling and sparkling fielding from both teams saw a low scoring encounter between the USA and Brazil. A sub par score by their own standards, indeed their lowest full innings score of the tournament, was still enough for the USA to defeat Brazil
Sindhu Sriharsha won the toss for the USA and chose to bat first. She may well have had second thoughts after Shebani Bhaskar was bowled for a duck by Nicole Monteiro (1-8) who continues to grow in stature, her off-cutters causing all sorts of trouble for opposition batters. When the captain fell to Laura Cardoso (3-24) it left team USA precariously placed on 26/2 in the sixth over.
Young guns Gargi Bhogle (26) and Anika Kolan (21) showed maturity in getting the score past the half century. The conditions were no easy and the Brazil bowlers were giving nothing away. The USA scratched their way to 89/6 at the end of their 20 overs, neither defeated nor triumphant.
Brazil got to learn for themselves just how difficult it was to score runs freely and the USA bowling and fielding were just as restrictive as they had been themselves. The bowling figures tell the story. Sara Farooq took 3-8 from 4 overs. Tara Norris 2-4 from her 4 overs. Moksha Chaudhary 1-7 from 4 overs. Suhani Thadani went wicketless for a change. Just 4 runs from her 4 overs which included 2 maidens. It doesn’t get tougher than that!
Brazil ultimately finished with 47/9, losing by 40 runs. It certainly was not a day to be a batter.
Scores:
USA 89/6 (Gargi Bhogle 26, Anika Kolan 21, Laura Cardoso 3-24) 20 overs
Brazil 47/9 (Roberta Avery 12, Sara Farooq 3-8, Tara Norris 2-4) 20 overs
Player of the Match: Sara Farooq