India Women secured a resounding victory over West Indies Women in the first ODI of their three-match series at Vadodara on Sunday, December 22. The game showcased the prowess of Smriti Mandhana with the bat and Renuka Singh Thakur with the ball, leading India to a comprehensive win by 211 runs.
Smriti Mandhana’s masterclass in setting up the score
Smriti Mandhana was the standout performer for India, scoring a magnificent 91 off 102 balls. Her innings was characterized by elegance and aggression, as she struck 13 boundaries, showcasing her ability to find gaps and rotate the strike effectively.
Mandhana’s innings played a pivotal role in setting a formidable target for the West Indies. She anchored the innings after the early dismissal of Pratika Rawal (40), her partnership with Harleen Deol (44) was particularly crucial, as they built a solid foundation for India’s innings. The duo added 70 runs for the second wicket, stabilizing the innings after an early loss. Mandhana reached her half-century in style, hitting boundaries with ease and maintaining a brisk scoring rate of 89.21.
Mandhana’s dismissal came at a critical juncture when she was trapped lbw by Zaida James, but by then, she had already laid a strong platform for India to post an imposing total of 314 runs. The Indian innings saw contributions from other players as well, including quick-fire knocks from Harmanpreet Kaur (34 off 23) and Richa Ghosh (26 off 13), which propelled India past the 300-run mark.
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Renuka Singh Thakur’s bowling brilliance
On the bowling front, Renuka was nothing short of sensational. She dismantled the West Indies batting lineup with her exceptional bowling performance, claiming five wickets for just 29 runs in her allotted ten overs. Renuka’s spell was instrumental in putting pressure on the West Indies from the outset.
She struck early by dismissing Hayley Matthews and Qiana Joseph without any runs on the board, leaving West Indies reeling at 0-2 within just two overs. Renuka continued her onslaught by taking crucial wickets of Deandra Dottin (8), Shemaine Campbelle (21), and Aaliyah Alleyne (13), effectively ensuring that no West Indies batter could settle in. Her ability to swing the ball and maintain tight lines made it exceedingly difficult for the West Indies batters to score freely. Renuka was adjudged as the Player of the Match for her fifer.
India thrash West Indies in the series opener
The match began with India opting 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 overs, marking a stark contrast to India’s batting display. The fall of wickets was rapid as they lost their first four wickets for just 11 runs. Despite a brief resistance from Campbelle and Afy Fletcher towards the end of their innings, it was clear that they were well 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 on home soil.
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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
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