India secured a comfortable five-wicket victory over West Indies in the third Women’s ODI of the ICC Championship match held at the Kotambi Stadium. Deepti Sharma emerged as the star performer with a match-winning all-round display, helping India seal the series with a dominant performance.
Deepti Sharma and Renuka Thakur wreaks havoc
West Indies Women elected to bat first after winning the toss but faltered early in their innings. Indian bowlers, led by Deepti and Renuka Thakur, dismantled the top order, with Hayley Matthews and Qiana Joseph departing for ducks. Despite the early collapse, Shemaine Campbelle (46 off 62) and Chinelle Henry (61 off 72) offered resistance, stitching crucial partnerships.
Henry’s aggressive knock, which included five fours and three sixes, kept the scoreboard ticking. However, the rest of the batting lineup failed to contribute significantly, with the team being bowled out for 162 in 38.5 overs. Deepti’s brilliant spell of 6/31 in 10 overs and Renuka’s 4/29 were instrumental in restricting the visitors to a below-par total.
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India complete paltry target to register clean sweep
In response, India Women faced a few hiccups early in their chase. Smriti Mandhana and Harleen Deol fell cheaply, leaving the hosts at 27/3. However, Harmanpreet Kaur steadied the ship with a quick-fire 32 off 22 balls, laced with seven boundaries.
Jemimah Rodrigues (29 off 45) provided a stabilizing hand, building a crucial partnership with Deepti. Sharma’s composed knock of 39 off 48 balls, supported by Richa Ghosh‘s explosive 23 off 11, sealed the game for India. The hosts chased down the target in just 28.2 overs.
The West Indies bowlers, led by Matthews and Deandra Dottin, managed to pick wickets at regular intervals but lacked the firepower to stop India’s lower middle order. Deepti ‘s all-round brilliance, combined with Richa’s late fireworks, ensured a comprehensive win for the home team.
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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
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