In their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up match between India Women and West Indies Women at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, West Indies Women won the toss and elected to bowl first under overcast conditions. Despite the bowling-first advantage, India Women went on to score 179 runs and secured a 26-run victory, restricting West Indies to 153/8 in their 20 overs.
The Indian team posted a formidable total of 179/8 in their 20 overs to secure a 26-run victory over West Indies Women. The innings was anchored by a superb half-century from Bharti Fulmali, who remained unbeaten with a top score of 56 off 40 balls, including 6 boundaries and a six. Earlier, openers Shafali Verma scored 29 off 13 and captain Smriti Mandhana scored 39 off 23, they both set a blistering tone at the top, while Yastika Bhatia contributed a solid 36 off 26 deliveries before retiring out.
Following a middle-order wobble where Jemimah Rodrigues fell for 7, Richa Ghosh was dismissed for a duck, Radha Yadav made 1, and Shreyanka Patil was out for 2 under a heavy bowling spell from West Indies’ Afy Fletcher, Kranti Goud chipped in with a quick 4 off 2 balls, and N Sree Charani remained not out on 2. Supported by 3 extras, India’s disciplined batting effort safely guided them to a final total of 179.
West Indies Women utilized a heavily rotated nine-bowler attack to restrict India, spearheaded by a brilliant performance from Afy Fletcher, who picked up a sensational 4 wickets for just 23 runs across her 4 overs. Ashmini Munisar also provided tidy control, conceding 14 runs from her 2 overs, while Aaliyah Alleyne’s figures were 1/17 in 2 overs and Deandra Dottin’s figures were 1/19 in 2 overs,they both chipped in with a wicket apiece to disrupt India’s momentum.
Karishma Ramharack managed to claim 1 wicket but was on the more expensive side, leaking 32 runs from 3 overs. The rest of the bowling unit went wicketless under India’s aggressive batting onslaught; captain Chinelle Henry yielded 21 runs from 2 overs, Qiana Joseph conceded 21 runs from her 2 overs, Jahzara Claxton gave away 19 runs in 2 overs, and Zaida James bowled a single over that went for 13 runs, bringing India’s final total to 179/8.
The West Indies Women fell short in their chase as they were restricted to 153/8 in their 20 overs, handing India Women a 26-run victory. Deandra Dottin led the fight at the top with a resilient 49 off 44 balls, featuring 8 boundaries, before being trapped lbw by Radha Yadav, while wicketkeeper Shemaine Campbelle contributed a steady 25 off 22 balls before retiring out.
The middle order suffered a significant collapse under pressure from India’s bowlers; Shreyanka Patil bowled a magnificent spell to dismiss Qiana Joseph for 5 runs, Zaida James for 1 run, and both Claxton for 6 runs and Jannillea Glasgow 19 runs, through catches by Bharti Fulmali. Radha Yadav caused equal damage by dismissing Alleyne for 13 and captain Chinelle Henry for a cheap 1 run. Down the order, Shawinsha Hector provided a late unbeaten cameo of 19* off 11 balls alongside Afy Fletcher (7*), and backed by 8 extras, they dragged the final score to 153.
India Women defended their total of 179/8 by restricting West Indies Women to 153/8, heavily relying on a destructive spin duo to trigger a steady fall of wickets from 81/3 down to 144/8. Shreyanka Patil was the primary strike bowler, picking up a superb 4-wicket haul for 36 runs in her 4 overs, while Radha Yadav provided brilliant, economical support by claiming 3 wickets for just 25 runs.
Tidy, short spells from Shafali Verma and N Sree Charani kept the pressure on, with both spinners conceding a mere 9 runs from their respective 2 overs. On the more expensive side, Renuka Singh Thakur went wicketless for 30 runs in her 4 overs, while Kranti Goud was hit for 43 runs across her 4-over quota, as India comfortably secured their 26-run victory.
India Women secured a 26-run victory by posting a commanding total fueled by a blazing start, which was anchored by Bharti Fulmali’s unbeaten 56 before Shreyanka Patil and Radha Yadav dismantled the opposition with a dominant spin partnership. Conversely, everything went wrong for the West Indies as their heavily rotated nine-bowler attack leaked runs rapidly, failing to back up Afy Fletcher’s brilliant 4-wicket haul.
Loves all things female cricket