India Women won a resounding victory over West Indian Women in the first ODI of their three-match series in Vadodara on Sunday, December 22. The match showcased the prowess of Smriti Mandhana with the bat and Renuka Singh Thakur with the ball, leading India to a comprehensive victory by 211 runs.
Masterclass by Smriti Mandhana on setting up the score
Smriti Mandhana was India’s best player, scoring a magnificent 91 off 102 balls. Her innings was characterized by elegance and aggression, as she hit 13 boundaries, demonstrating her ability to find gaps and spin strikes effectively.
Mandhana’s innings played a pivotal role in setting up a formidable target for the West Indies. She anchored the innings after the early dismissal of Pratika Rawal (40 years), its partnership with Harleen Déol (44) was particularly crucial as they built a strong foundation for India’s innings. The duo added 70 runs for the second wicket, stabilizing the innings after an early defeat. Mandhana reached her half-century in style, hitting boundaries with ease and maintaining a brisk score rate of 89.21.
Mandhana’s dismissal came at a critical time when she found herself trapped by Zaida Jamesbut by then she had already established a strong platform for India to post a commanding total of 314 runs. The Indian innings also saw contributions from other players, including quick hits from Harmanpreet Kaur (34 out of 23) and Richa Ghosh (26 off 13), which took India past the 300-run mark.
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Renuka Singh Thakur’s bowling brilliance
Bowling-wise, Renuka was simply sensational. She dismantled the West Indies batting line-up with her exceptional bowling performance, taking five wickets for just 29 runs in her allotted ten overs. Renuka’s plight helped put pressure on the West Indies from the start.
She struck early by laying off Hayley Matthews And Qiana Joseph with no runs on the board, leaving West Indies reeling at 0-2 in just two overs. Renuka continued her onslaught by taking crucial wickets of Deandra Dottin (8), Shemaine Campbelle (21), and Aaliyah Alleyne (13), thus ensuring that no West Indian batter could settle. His ability to swing the ball and maintain tight lines made it extremely difficult for West Indian batters to score freely. Renuka was named player of the match for her fife.
India beat West Indies in series opener
The match began with India choosing to bat first after winning the toss. They posted an impressive total of 314/9 in their 50 overs, with significant contributions from Mandhana and other middle-order batters. In response, West Indies struggled throughout their innings against a disciplined Indian bowling attack.
THE West Indies were bowled out for just 103 runs in 26.2 oversmarking a stark contrast to India’s batting display. The fall in wickets was rapid as they lost their first four wickets for just 11 runs. Despite brief resistance from Campbelle and Afy Fletcher Towards the end of their innings, it was clear that they were largely outplayed.
India’s emphatic victory by 211 runs not only sets a positive tone for the series but also highlights their dominance in women’s cricket at home.
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This article was first published on FemmesCricket.comA Cricket Schedules business.
