Vadodara, India – In a resounding display of dominance, India Women overpowered the West Indies Women to claim a decisive five-wicket victory and sweep the three-match One Day International (ODI) series at the Kotambi International Cricket Stadium on Friday.
The emphatic triumph, underpinned by breath-taking bowling performances from Deepti Sharma and Renuka Singh, left no room for doubt about the home side’s superiority.
Sharma, named Player of the Match, delivered a masterclass in spin bowling, claiming a career-best six-wicket haul with figures of 6-31. Complementing her brilliance, Singh, who earned the Player of the Series title, dismantled the Windies’ top order with her sharp pace, capturing four wickets for just 29 runs. Together, the duo skittled the visitors for a paltry 162 runs in 38.5 overs.
Sharma and Singh: A lethal duo
The West Indies’ innings began disastrously, unraveling almost immediately after electing to bat. Renuka Singh set the tone with a peach of a delivery on the first ball, inducing an edge from Qiana Joseph straight into Richa Ghosh’s gloves. Moments later, skipper Hayley Matthews was bowled for a duck, undone by a wicked inswinger.
Deandra Dottin momentarily raised hopes with a crisp boundary but miscalculated an audacious heave, bowled by Singh to leave the Windies reeling at 9 for 3.
Sharma then tightened her grip on the match, dismantling the middle and lower order with ruthless precision. Her scalps included critical breakthroughs, such as the dismissal of Aaliyah Alleyne and Afy Fletcher, halting the Windies’ resistance in its tracks.
Henry’s heroics in vain
Amid the carnage, Chinelle Henry emerged as a lone beacon of hope for the Windies, crafting an elegant 61 in her first appearance of the series. Partnering with Shemaine Campbelle, who contributed a gutsy 46, Henry spearheaded a remarkable 97-run partnership that offered a glimmer of competitiveness.
Campbelle dazzled briefly with consecutive boundaries off leg-spinner Priya Mishra but fell victim to Sharma while attempting an ambitious lofted shot. Henry soldiered on, reaching her third ODI half-century with a deft guide to third man, before Sharma dismissed her to spark another collapse.
The visitors crumbled, losing their last five wickets for just 21 runs, with Sharma claiming three of them in quick succession.
Indian resilience overcomes early setbacks
Chasing a modest target, India’s innings wavered early as Aaliyah Alleyne and Deandra Dottin struck crucial blows to dismiss Smriti Mandhana and Harleen Deol cheaply. When Matthews removed Pratika Rawal for 18 and Fletcher bowled captain Harmanpreet Kaur for 32, the hosts found themselves in a precarious position at 73 for 4.
It was Sharma’s day to shine, however. The all-rounder showcased her mettle with the bat, anchoring the chase with an unbeaten 39. Teaming up with Jemimah Rodrigues (29) and Richa Ghosh (23*), Sharma orchestrated partnerships of 56 and 38 runs, respectively, to steer India to 167 for 5 in just 28.2 overs.
Closing triumph
“This victory is a testament to our collective effort and resilience,” Sharma reflected after the match. The result cemented India’s dominance over the visitors, underscoring their strength in both departments and leaving West Indies to ponder their struggles in the ODI format.
India’s clean sweep not only bolsters their confidence but also signals their readiness for future challenges on the international stage.
