The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Mithali determined to play despite injury

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 09, 2005

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Sport - Cricket

Mithali determined to play despite injury

NEW DELHI, APRIL 8 . Skipper Mithali Raj, the architect of India's 40-run win against New Zealand in the semifinal of the women's World Cup on Thursday, asserted she would play the final against Australia despite a strained knee.

Mithali slammed a match-winning unbeaten 91 against the Kiwis that saw India reach the final of the event for the first time. She, however, strained her knee while fielding.

"Even if I'm not fit, I'll definitely play because it's a dream come true to play a final in the World Cup," BBC Sports quoted Mithali as saying. "It's going to be a big match for us but the girls are all prepared for it," Mithali said with her eyes on the final.

Showering praises on the spin duo of Nooshin Al Khader and Neetu David, Mithali said, "A couple of early wickets put pressure on the Kiwis, then the match was open for both sides, but Indian spinners are the best in the world. They can turn the ball on any surface."

Khader claimed three wickets while Neetu David got two in the semifinal. India thus avenged the group league match defeat.

New Zealand skipper Maia Lewis, however, defended the decision to put India in after she won the toss. "It was definitely a gettable target but obviously we were going to have to bat well. Getting off to a start where we lost a couple of quick wickets made it quite hard for us...In the end we didn't play very well today and India took its chances. It's an improving side and really deserved it," Lewis said. — UNI

Our Correspondent adds from Jamshedpur:

The Indian men's cricket team has sent its wishes to the women's side. "We hope you can do what we could not," was the theme of the message. India had lost to Australia in the men's World Cup final in South Africa in 2003.

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