India 95 for 2 (Rodrigues 42*, Harmanpreet 32*, Matthews 1-7) beat West Indies 94 for 6 (Matthews 34, Deepti 3-11, Vastrakar 2-19) by eight wickets
Another clinical bowling display from India helped them register their third win in four games – with one washed out – in the women’s T20I tri-series at Buffalo Park. Deepti Sharma picked up 3 for 11 while Pooja Vastrakar made a successful return with two wickets of her own to restrict West Indies to 94, before Jemimah Rodrigues shepherded the small chase with an unbeaten 42.
Fast bowler Renuka Singh, who had missed each of India’s previous outings, returned to the XI, while West Indies brought in four players from their Under-19 T20 World Cup squad – allrounders Zaida James, Djenaba Joseph, Trishan Holder and fast bowler Jannillea Glasgow – for Stafanie Taylor, Chinelle Henry, Shakera Selman and Chedean Nation, all of whom are recovering from injuries.
Deepti spins a web, James shines on debut
With India opting to bowl, Deepti triggered West Indies’ slide with her flight and dip. She first cleaned Rashada Williams up – who had opened with Hayley Matthews, as West Indies tried yet another combination at the top – before repeating the act against Shemaine Campbelle with her next ball. Left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayawad held Djenaba Joseph in front before Matthews and Shabika Ghajnabi held the ground. But Vastrakar bounced off Matthews with a run-a-ball 34 in his 12th over, leaving the West Indies with him 53-4.
At the time, James showed off his skills in his West Indies debut. She was the West Indies’ top scorer in her recently finished U19 Women’s T20 World Cup, where she brought form to play by going unbeaten on 21 of 31 balls. She prevented India from going through the lineup, but her run was a long wait. James toned down two sixes. This is the same number the West Indies had managed in the entire tri series up to that point. First wide long he hits deer on his pandy with his feet, then uses his feet to pitch deep tee his delivery reach and smashes them. long ones. end. James said Aaliyah he added 21 balls from just 16 balls at the Alley and even though the West Indies he could only manage 94 balls in the final he scored 36 from five overs. It was helpful.
Rodriguez is in tight pursuit
Chasing 95, India early on he lost Smriti Mandhana after he missed a dipper from Shamilia Connell. But Rodrigues first added 33 in his one drop Harleen Deol, followed by a 54 unbroken partnership with captain Harmanpreet Kaur.
Rodriguez maintained fluidity with slow stretches that supported the spin, finding gaps frequently and benefiting from the breadth offered by West Indies sailors. As the inning progressed, Herman Pleet also came along and released his arm to strike out four fours to finish unbeaten on 32 of 23 pitches. The partnership required only 40 balls for him and India were able to take 8 wickets and 37 balls for him.
India will face South Africa in Thursday’s tri-series final.