Fantastic performance by India, led by fantastic 100s by stylish Smriti Mandhana (123 runs off 119 balls) and charismatic Harmanpreet Kaur (109 runs off 107 balls ) helped India pile up 317-8 in 50 overs. The Women in Blue went on to win the match by 155 runs and successfully broke the two-match winning streak of the in-form West Indies. With four points, India are comfortably sitting at the top of the points table.
It was an outstanding performance by Kaur and Mandhana to power India to a formidable score. It was an all-India show except from the first 12 overs of the West Indian batting. The opening pair of West Indies in Deandra Dottin and Hayley Matthews plundered 100 runs in the first 12 overs.
A fearless start by left-handed batter Yastika Bhatia (31 runs of 21 balls) indicated the clear mission team INDIA had today to be on top and win the match. Along with Mandhana, Bhatia put together 49 runs in just 6.3 overs.
Losing two quick wickets in Deepti Sharma and Mithali Raj for scores of 15 and 5 respectively did not affect the mindset of Mandhana and Kaur who played with grit and determination to take India to 244-3 in the 43rd over. Mandhana made 123 in just 119 balls before departing and Kaur who brought in her outstanding century on the 100th ball of her innings got out for 109 (107 balls).
India Scored 317-8 at 6.34 with none of the West Indian bowlers being able to restrict the Indian scoring to below 5.5 runs per over.
While chasing, Dottin and Matthews looked in good touch as the former brought about her half-century in just 35 balls in the 10th over of the innings. It looked like an interesting chase as West Indies were cruising at 100-0 in the 12th over but some smart bowling by Sneh Rana got Dottin out for 62 (46 balls ).
It was a good change brought in by Mithali to bring in Meghna who got Kycia Knight out for 5 in her second spell caught by Mandhana bringing in West Indies’ captain Stafanie Taylor at 108-2.
Indian bowlers did very well between the 13th and 17th over to create pressure on the opposition batters. Meghna got rid of Taylor and Rana sent Matthews packing as West Indies were suddenly struggling at 114-4. Wickets kept falling at regular intervals due to excellent spells by Rajeshwari Gayakwad (2 wickets), Meghna (2 wickets) and Rana (3 wickets). India bundled out West Indies, a side who beat New Zealand and England early in their World Cup campaign, for a paltry 162 in 40.3 overs to win the match by 155 runs.
It was a joyous day for Indian fans to see Team India register their second win in this edition of ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup with ease and determination.
Take Home for INDIA – Victorious mindsets/ highest wicket-taker in Women’s Cricket World Cups (Jhulan Goswami with 40 wickets)
West Indies – Disappointing performance
Minoti Desai is a former India Test and ODI cricketer. She is also the author of the book “She The Cricketer”. This is an exclusive Column by Minoti Desai for FemaleCricket.com where she would express her thoughts around Team India’s campaign for the Women’s Cricket World Cup 2022
Minoti Desai is a former India Test and ODI cricketer. She is also the author of the book “She The Cricketer”