After defeating Pakistan in their second match of the Commonwealth Games by 8 wickets, the Indian women’s team has received another good news as star pacer Pooja Vastrakar has reportedly fully recovered from Covid-19. According to the report, the cricketer has tested negative and will be available for selection for India’s final Commonwealth Games 2022 Group match against Barbados on Wednesday, 3rd August.
Vastrakar and S. Meghana tested positive for Covid-19 after the Indian team left for Birmingham last week to take part in the sporting extravaganza. The bowling all-rounder was quarantined in Bengaluru and is now ready to take part in the mega event.
Last Thursday i.e July 28th, Meghana also got her boarding pass to England after her Covid test also came out negative. Meghana will also join the team for team India’s last group match against Barbados like Vastrakar.
???? towards Commonwealth Games like!
Pooja Vastrakar will join Indian team in Birmingham, and she will be available for the final group game against Barbados on August 3.#B2022 pic.twitter.com/lznfNsqjtc
— Women’s CricZone #B2022 (@WomensCricZone) July 31, 2022
Unfortunately, the virus had forced both Pooja and Meghana to miss the first two group fixtures against the reigning T20 world champions Australia and the second game against arch-rivals Pakistan.
Coming back to the competition, after losing to Australia in their opening encounter, the Indian team have their eyes set on winning their remaining match against Barbados in order to qualify for the knockout stage of the tournament and also to keep their medal hopes alive.
The women-in-blue faced arch-rivals Pakistan in the second Group A fixture which was a must-win encounter for both sides. Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof called it right at the toss and elected to bat first. Pakistan hoped to put up a better show in today’s game after a 15-run defeat against Barbados in their opening match.
The Pakistan team looked under pressure right from ball one as Indian bowlers didn’t allow them to get away easily. India struck early getting the first wicket in the second over itself after bowling a maiden in the first over. The Pakistan batter couldn’t do much as they were bundled out for 99 in their allotted 18 overs. The Indian team chased the target with ease as opener Smriti Mandhana scored a brilliant half-century. Indian team reached home with 38 balls to spare and climbed to the top of the points table in Group A.
