India’s women’s cricket team continued their winning streak against the West Indies, securing their ninth consecutive T20I victory. They achieved a commanding 49-run win in the first match of the series in Navi Mumbai on Sunday.
Jemimah Rodrigues and Smriti Mandhana led India to a record-breaking performance. They helped India reach their highest-ever T20I total against the West Indies.
India’s final score of 195 for four is also their third-highest overall in T20Is. The West Indies, in response, managed 146 for seven.
Qiana Joseph impressed with a quick 49 runs off 33 balls. Deandra Dottin, returning to T20Is, scored her first half-century this year with 52 runs.
Despite their efforts, the West Indies fell short of victory.
Substitute fielder Minnu Mani took a remarkable catch early in the match. This dismissed West Indies captain Hayley Matthews for just one run off the bowling of Titas Sadhu. Sadhu finished with impressive figures of 3/37.
Joseph’s innings included five fours and three sixes. However, the West Indies struggled to build substantial partnerships.
Joseph and Shemaine Campbelle added 34 runs for the second wicket. Their partnership consumed 31 balls, placing pressure on the required run rate.
Joseph and Dottin’s 44-run partnership for the third wicket was also relatively slow, lasting only 18 balls.
Joseph targeted bowler Saima Thakor, hitting four boundaries in a single over. Despite this, the required run rate continued to climb.
Sadhu eventually dismissed Joseph, one run short of a half-century. Dottin then took on the responsibility of scoring quickly.
Dottin’s 52 runs came off just 28 balls, featuring four fours and three sixes. Despite being dropped twice by Indian fielders, she could not guide her team to victory.
Sadhu also dismissed Dottin. The Indian spinners, Deepti Sharma and Radha Yadav, both took two wickets for 21 runs, increasing the pressure on the West Indies batters.
Rodrigues played a key role in India’s impressive total. She scored 73 runs off 35 balls, hitting nine fours and two sixes. This was one of her best T20I performances, batting at number three.
Mandhana continued her excellent form, scoring her 28th T20I half-century and her sixth of the year. She finished with 54 runs.
Mandhana’s innings took her past 600 T20I runs for the year. She is now fourth among the highest run-scorers in women’s T20Is in 2024.
Mandhana’s knock comprised seven fours and two sixes. She and her teammates relished playing in familiar home conditions. India surpassed their previous highest T20I total against the West Indies.
India’s previous highest score against the West Indies was 185/4, achieved in November 2019 at Gros Islet.
Rodrigues targeted the leg side effectively, finding gaps and hitting boundaries. She reached her 12th T20I fifty with a powerful shot.
Mandhana and Rodrigues built a partnership of 81 runs for the second wicket. Their partnership spanned 44 balls before Karishma Ramharack dismissed Mandhana.
Ramharack was the most successful West Indies bowler, with figures of 2 for 18 from her four overs.
Richa Ghosh added a quickfire 20 runs off 14 balls, including two fours and a six. Deandra Dottin took an excellent catch to dismiss her.
India’s opening partnership between Uma Chetry and Mandhana provided a solid start. They put on 50 runs in the first seven overs. Chetry contributed 24 runs.
