Hosts India secured a dominant 211-run win in the opening One Day International (ODI) of the 3-match series against the West Indies, continuing the momentum from their 2-1 Twenty20 International (T20I) series win against the same opposition. The 2nd ODI will be played at Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara, on the 24th of December 2024, at 1:30 PM Indian Standard Time (IST).
In the opening ODI, Smriti Mandhana (91) and debutant Pratika Rawal (40) put up a 110-run opening partnership, which the middle order built on, as a late surge from Harmanpreet Kaur (34), Jemimah Rodrigues (31), and Richa Ghosh (26) propelled India to 314/9 (50). Renuka Singh Thakur’s early burst put the West Indies on the backfoot, from which they didn’t recover, as Thakur’s maiden ODI fifer (5/29) rattled the West Indies for 103, while Titas Sadhu also bagged a couple.
Squads:
Indian women’s cricket team
Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Pratika Rawal, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Richa Ghosh (WK), Uma Chetry (WK), Tejal Hasabnis, Deepti Sharma, Minnu Mani, Priya Mishra, Tanuja Kanwer, Titas Sadhu, Saima Thakor, Renuka Singh Thakur
West Indies women’s cricket team
Hayley Matthews (C), Shemaine Campbelle, Aaliyah Alleyne, Shamilia Connell, Nerissa Crafton, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Shabika Gajnabi, Chinelle Henry, Zaida James, Qiana Joseph, Mandy Mangru, Ashmini Munisar, Karishma Ramharack, Rashada Williams
Players to watch out:
Harmanpreet Kaur
The 35-year-old batter, from 120 ODI outings, has amassed 3,749 runs at an average of 37.49, with the highest score of 171*, while also taking 31 wickets and maintaining an economy rate of 5.28. Harmanpreet has been among the runs lately, registering scores of 17, 38, and 12 against Australia, followed by 34 in this series opener. The veteran batter can be trusted to convert these starts into substantial scores, leading the scoring.
Titas Sadhu
The 20-year-old pacer, from 3 ODI outings, has picked up only one wicket but maintained an impressive economy rate of 5.43. Titas debuted in a recent ODI series against Australia, producing bowling figures of 0/27 and 0/65. She had a notable T20I series against the West Indies, producing bowling figures of 3/37, 0/32, and 1/31, and continued in form with 1/24 in the 1st ODI. She is a promising talent and can be counted on for wickets.
Deandra Dottin
The 33-year-old all-rounder, in ODIs, from 136 outings, has accumulated 3,735 runs at an average of 30.36, and from 95 innings, has claimed 73 wickets at an average of 4.90. In-form Dottin, in the T20I series against India, registered scores of 52 and 25, while also taking 4 wickets. While she picked a wicket in her economical return in the 1st ODI, she departed for 8 but can be relied upon to step up with improved efforts.
Afy Fletcher
The 37-year-old off-spinner, from 66 ODI outings, has scalped 86 wickets at an average of 23.60, an economy rate of 4.08, and recorded the best of 4/22, while also being handy with the bat on a few occasions. Afy scalped 3 wickets from as many T20Is against India, and though she had a wicketless outing in the ODI series opener (0/31 off 5), she chipped in with a score of 24* and should be backed to find her wicket-taking best with the ball.
Pitch:
The Kotambi Stadium offers a balanced wicket, catering to both batters and bowlers, as evidenced by the average score in the 260s. While batters enjoy the trueness of the wicket, there is enough for pacers to exploit as well.
Weather:
It will be a pleasant day at the Kotambi Stadium, with no expected rain interruptions and sunny skies. The temperature is forecasted to hover around 25°C, with light winds and 50% humidity.
Fantasy playing XI:
Richa Ghosh, Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Hayley Matthews, Deandra Dottin, Deepti Sharma, Renuka Singh Thakur, Afy Fletcher, Karishma Ramharack, Titas Sadhu
Match details:
Date – December 24, 2024
Time – 1:30 PM IST
Venue – Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara
Broadcast – The game will be live streamed on Jio Cinema and telecasted on Sports18.
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