Indian opener Shafali Verma gave credit to her opening partner Smriti Mandhana after they registered a comprehensive 95-run win against Netherlands in the ongoing Women T20 World Cup at Headingley, Leeds on Wednesday.

Verma, who was dismissed after scoring only six runs in the opening clash against Pakistan, scored a fine knock of 55 runs, which is her first T20 World Cup fifty. The right-hander added 115 runs off 70 balls with Smriti Mandhana, who scored another impressive knock of 74 runs off just 47 balls. The right and left-hand batting pair added 59 runs in the Powerplay overs to give a perfect start to their team.

Thus, the duo played a key role in helping India post 209 runs on the board. Verma revealed that Mandhana helps her keep calm in the middle.

“She keeps advising me, because I feel like hitting a six every ball, but she’s the one who keeps me calm, tells me loose balls will come and I have to play along the ground too. So she keeps me calm and she spoke very well with me today, she was making me understand on every ball. So it felt great, we had a 100-plus partnership and we are trying to do the same in the upcoming matches,” Shafali said in the press conference via ESPNcricinfo. 

Verma revealed that Mandhana can be spot on with her advice as she has the best seat when she is batting down in the middle.

“She has the best seat to tell me what I’m doing is right or wrong, and then even I have the best seat to tell her which bowler I can take on. We both know who should take the strike when there’s an offspinner, or when there’s a left-arm spinner. We have been playing with each other for many years, so we both know about each other a lot,” she added. 

India will next take on South Africa at Old Trafford in Manchester on Sunday, June 21.