In the World Cup game against New Zealand, India could manage just 198 while chasing a sizeable score of 261. Moreover, India seemed to lack intent for most part of the innings, scoring just under 100 runs in the first 30 overs for the loss of five wickets. However, the Indian batters were able to fix the nuts and bolts of their ordinary batting effort in the previous game, as they showed a lot more intent in their crucial tie versus the West Indies, accumulating 317 runs and emerging victorious by a 155-run margin.

Smriti Mandhana, who top-scored with a superlative 123, said that the players had long discussions after the game versus New Zealand and looked to play with positive intent.

“I think we had a long discussion in the meeting before the match and we discussed how we couldn’t really get going in the match against New Zealand, and something that we all decided as a batting unit that we have to stay positive regardless of whatever situation we are in,” Mandhana said in the presser after the win against West Indies which took India to the top spot in the points table.

“So that’s something that we consciously wanted to work on and you know, try and keep the scoreboard ticking. That’s something I think we all really wanted to work on in this match. And I’m happy that the whole batting unit could actually do that, and I think to start with, Yastika – the way she batted in the power play – I think took a lot of pressure off me because even after losing three wickets we still had a score on the board,” she added.

The enterprising batter was striking at less then 70 after facing 50 balls before pressing the accelerator pedal with trademark flicks and lofts to end up with a 119-ball 123. Mandhana was pleased that she paddled through tricky situations, including the phase of play where India had lost three wickets, and ended up with a three-figure knock.

“As I said it wasn’t the one – like a typical one which I just go into a flow and I started playing my shots. So, really pleased that I could put some brakes on my scoring rate and play according to the situation and then contribute, and mainly I think contribute to India, for India’s win. And I think that’s something which I really look forward to every day when I come out to bat. So I’m happy that I could do that today.”

Mandhana also shared a game-breaking alliance of 184 with Harmanpreet Kaur, who also scored a hundred. Kaur, who found her form back in the final ODI of the five-match series versus New Zealand, has been in excellent touch in this World Cup. Mandhana aptly observed that Kaur is a vital cog in the batting order and this knock would give her team-mate plenty of confidence.

“I think she’s a very crucial part of our batting order, especially in the middle order. And I’m really happy that she’s come back to form and I think from the practice game, she’s been batting well, so we’re really confident that she’ll be able to score runs in this tournament and I’m happy that she’s got back-to-back 50’s. Most importantly, I think today’s century will give her a lot of confidence and I think the whole team as well, because we were not in a great place I think to start with and from there for her to come in and bat and get us out of that situation. I think it was an incredible innings,” said Mandhana.

One of the salient features of the partnership was the duo blending the big shots with a diet of singles and twos, especially during the phase where India had lost a few wickets. “I think when she came in to bat, I think we were focusing more on singles and doubles because we had lost three quick wickets and we didn’t want to play another shot or get out or something and we didn’t want to even stop the run rate – so our discussion was both of us said that we’ll just keep batting and I’m sure we’ll get singles and doubles and let’s just convert the singles, into doubles – that something which we all spoke in the dressing room after the New Zealand match that the momentum, which in the last match, we couldn’t actually start the momentum and you know, carry us also.”

On a slightly lighter note, Mandhana also talked about the tweet posted by India all-rounder Harleen Deol. Mandhana noted that when Harmanpreet walked out to bat, India were in a spot of bother, so she didn’t ‘joke’ around much and looked to focus on the job. However, once the duo built a stand of substance, they started to have more ‘fun’ in the middle.

“I have not read the tweet yet, but yeah I think when Harry di walked in the situation was quite tricky so I didn’t want to get her lose her focus. So I didn’t really joke around at that time but I think once she got set – once she was in 30s and 40s – we both were actually having a lot of fun – after that we started talking a lot more after when she was set – after 25 and 30s. And I don’t think that I needed to tell her because she was smiling a lot more than she generally does.

“It’s always fun to bat with Harry, we have batted a lot in T20s. I think in last six or seven years I’ve been part of I’ve had a lot of partnerships with her and we always complement each other really well. So yeah, it’s really fun to bat with her and I think we share a really good bond on and off the field and I think we all have a really good bond as a batting unit, so we all share a good bond when we bat. It just depends on the situation – like once we get set – I think like the jokes keep going after once we are set – so that’s what happened today also that when we got set, we started joking around a bit more. And we started smiling a bit more.”