IND-W vs WI-W, 1st ODI: With the help of a brilliant bowling performance by seamer Renuka Thakur (who registered figures of 5/25 in the 10 overs that she bowled) and another match-winning performance by Smriti Mandhana (91), helped India hammer West Indies by 211 runs during the series opener in Vadodara on Sunday. The hosts, who have already won the WT20I series against the same opponent by 2-1 will aim to win the ongoing ODI series similarly during the second match, which will be held at the Kotambi stadium on Tuesday.
Continuing her sublime form, India's star batter Smriti Mandhana spearheaded India's batting attack, whereas the other batters too chipped in although they suffered a mini collapse during the last few overs and had posted a mammoth target of 314/9 during the series opener on Sunday.
At the same time, Renuka Thakur rattled West Indies' batting lineup as she dismissed batters like skipper Hayley Matthews (0), Deandra Dottin (8), Aaliyah Allene (13) and Shabika Gajnabi (3). Due to Renuka's bowling brilliance, West Indies was left reeling at (34/6) in 13 overs.
Matthews got out while playing a wide delivery whereas Dottin mistimed a wide slog shot. India captain Harmanpreet Kaur dismissed Alleyne Fell by taking a stunning catch, she made a comeback to the national squad after giving the last two T20Is a miss owing to a knee injury as she jumped in the car and took the catch while standing at mid-on. Renuka took her fourth wicket as she bowled a brilliant inswinger delivery to Gajnabi.
Titas Sadhu (who registered figures of 1/24 in the seven overs that she bowled), assisted Renuka brilliantly as she dismissed Reshada Williams (3) by bowling an inswinger, which went through the gap, between the ball and the bat.
West Indies had the worst start as opener Qiana Joseph was dismissed on the first ball itself as she was running out as she couldn't reach the crease on time as Matthews tried to take a single, where Jemimah Rodrigues, who was aware, had hit the ball towards wicket-keeper Richa Ghosh.
Smriti Mandhana became that for the Women in Blue as to what Sachin Tendulkar had become to the Men in Blue during the 90s and what Virat Kohli was from 2012 to 2019, as one player who carries the whole team on their shoulders.
She had a dream run this year, as she had smashed four WODI hundreds and three half-centuries in as many T20Is against West Indies, although she did fall short of scoring consecutive hundreds in ODIs once again spearheaded the batting lineup and helped the team post a mammoth target.
The visitors were once again seen struggling due to their poor fielding efforts and the only positive aspect was youngster Zaida James five-for who also registered the best bowling figures against India in ODIs.
While batting first, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side had a flying start as debutant; Pratika Rawal impressed everyone by scoring a match-winning knock of 40 in her debut match, and along with Mandhana, they stitched a match-winning partnership of 110 runs for the first wicket. They faced 53 dot balls in the first 13 overs, where Rawal also survived a nervy caught-behind dismissal, as the ball went towards the leg side and West Indies didn't review and then the catch was dropped at mid-off.
But then the hosts increased their speed as Harleen Deol (44) and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (34), built another brilliant partnership of 66 runs for the third wicket.
Then Jemimah Rodrigues (31) and Richa Ghosh (26) kept the run-flow going.
The Women in Blue lost seven wickets during the last 10 overs but scored 89 runs as batters Harleen, Harman, Rodrigues, and Ghosh did play some brilliant shots.