India delivered a commanding performance against the West Indies, securing a resounding 115-run victory in the second ODI. Harleen Deol’s maiden century, supported by a trio of half-centurions, laid the foundation for India’s joint-highest ODI total of 358 for 5. In contrast, despite Hayley Matthews’ valiant century, the West Indies fell short in their monumental chase, lacking the partnerships to match India’s dominance.
Opting to bat first, India’s openers set the tone with a scintillating 110-run partnership. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana continued her rich vein of form, scoring her fifth consecutive half-century (53 off 47 balls) against the West Indies. Pratika Rawal complemented Mandhana with her maiden ODI fifty, scoring 76 runs off 86 balls.
Harleen Deol then stepped in at No. 3, seizing the moment to play a career-defining knock. Reflecting on her innings and her journey back from injury, Deol shared, “When I was there, I was just thinking how my mom will be happy for this (maiden century). When I was undergoing my ACL surgery, my mom was someone who never got irritated because I could not walk.”
Dropped on 20 by Dottin, Deol built her innings meticulously, reaching her maiden ODI century off 98 balls. The star batter stitched crucial partnerships, including a 62-run stand with Rawal and a game-changing 116-run collaboration with Jemimah Rodrigues for the fourth wicket.
Rodrigues played a crucial role in accelerating the innings with a brisk 52 off 36 balls. Sharing her thoughts on the partnership, Rodrigues recalled an emotional moment, “So for those who don’t know, Harry (Harleen) had this ACL injury and her surgery was in Mumbai. I remember sitting there and tears falling down her face and as a friend, I could not see it. From that day to now, I was so happy that I was at the non-striker’s end when this moment happened, and I got extra emotional.”
The duo’s stand ensured India added 184 runs in the last 20 overs, a remarkable improvement from their previous outing. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (22 off 18) and Richa Ghosh (13* off 6) also chipped in with crucial contributions, helping India reach a mammoth total.
Deol emphasized the importance of the team management’s belief in her abilities, “Amol Sir told me imagine you scoring a fifty or hundred, they definitely knew that I had this capability. When you are coming back from injury you need the support from the captain and coach, and I am very happy that they showed a lot of confidence in me.”
Chasing 359, the West Indies started cautiously, with their openers struggling to get going. Renuka Singh, who had already proved her mettle with a five-wicket haul in the first ODI, delivered another match-winning spell. Her devastating in-swing wrecked the top order, and she received excellent support from Priya Mishra and Titas Sadhu.
Despite the early setbacks, skipper Hayley Matthews anchored the innings with a sublime century. She formed a crucial 112-run partnership with wicketkeeper-batter Shemaine Campbelle, giving the visitors a glimmer of hope. However, the lower order faltered, and they were eventually bowled out for 243 in 46.2 overs. Priya Mishra (3 wickets), Deepti Sharma, and Pratika Rawal (2 wickets each) ensured India’s bowlers maintained control throughout the innings, sealing a convincing victory for the hosts.
Reflecting on the confidence her century brought her, Deol stated, “I don’t know if it will be a turning point or not but definitely it will boost me up. When you have scored a century, then you enter into the coming matches with more confidence.”
Baroda’s stadium proved to be a lucky ground for Deol, who revealed, “I did not know that I am the first one to score a century at Baroda. Baroda has been special to me because the previous time I came here, I scored a lot of runs during zonal matches and that led to my selection for the India A tours.”
Deol also reflected on her perspective post-injury, “When you are coming back from an injury, you feel whatever time God has given, it will be yours only and it will not be given to anyone, so I see things that way.”
India’s comprehensive victory, combined with Deol’s inspiring comeback, sets the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the series. The third ODI is set to be played at the same venue on December 27. With confidence running high, India are poised to maintain their dominance in the final match.
(Quotes sourced from BCCI)
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