Smriti Mandhana and captain Harmanpreet Kaur combined a good half-century unbeaten as India beat West Indies by 56 runs. India is keen now to keep a clean sheet in the Women’s T20I Tri-Series here. It was a fair performance by team India in this India vs West indies.
India after winning the draw and beating the selection, got off to a good start. Team India scored 167 for 2 in 20 overs. They then limited opponents to 111 of four to claim their second straight win. Opening players Yastika Bhatia and Mandhana put together a 33-run partnership before. The first was sacked untapped by Karishma Ramharack, down 18 with just one delivery left on the power play. Ramharack threw the ball out and Yastika tried to go over the ceiling but ended up playing away from body. (Read Also: ICC loses $2.5 Million through a cybercrime)
A weak outside edge made goalkeeper Rashada Williams easy to catch in the first set. Her passing brought out Harleen Deol, but her tenure in the circle didn’t last long.As she was pinned forward as she tried to take pacemaker Shanika Bruce’s ball offside. The early reaction to the long ball resulted in the young midfielder missing the and the ball hit her on the front pad.
The fairest and match-turning partnership
There were some tense moments at 52 for two, but when Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur matched, the boundaries flowed freely. Harmanpreet, who led the team again after reportedly missing the opening game of the Tri-Series through illness, sang as he smashed an eight-limit, 35-ball 51. Mandhana, after missing the racquet in the first game against South Africa, was just as combative, scoring 74 in just 51 deliveries as the duo battled for nearly 12 overs together to guide India to a competitive result.
Mandhana, suspended for seven runs in the opener of the tri-series against the South Africans, hit 10 bounds and a six despite opponents using seven pitchers to break the partnership. A 167 goal It was always going to be a tough chase and India’s spinners, led by Radha Yadav, speed up the heats. Giving away very little by loose supplies. Radha, 22, gave away just 10 runs in her four overs while also taking the wicket from Shemaine Campbelle (47), who consumed 57 deliveries.
By the time Campbell was sent off trying to play a full bowl but Amanjot sank Kaur in the mid-deep wicket, the West Indies were all but losing the match as they with just 15 deliveries remaining 96 to four. Skipper Hayley Matthews and Afy Fletcher also failed to get the runs flowing and in the end, a target of 167 proved too big to pursue.
Short Score:
India Women 167 for 2 in 20 Overs (Smriti Mandhana 74 n.o., Harmanpreet Kaur 56 n.o.)
West Indies Women were bowled out for 111 for 4 in 20 overs.
