ICC WWC 2017, West Indies v India, Review: Smriti Mandhana's hundred takes India eves home

Team India entered the Women’s World Cup 2017 on the back of sublime last six months. In the opening encounter against the hosts England, the Indian eves got off to a top-notch start. They entered this match against the World T20 champions with 18 wins in last 19 matches. Indian skipper Mithali Raj won the toss and elected to field in their second encounter against West Indies in Taunton.

West Indies, in their opening encounter against one of the tournament’s favourites Australia, suffered a brutal loss. After beginning the match on a high against the favourites, the West Indian batters failed to build on the momentum that the openers created. In the bowling department, the West Indies bowlers faced an onslaught from Australia, who ran home victorious with eight wickets to spare.

West Indies eves, batting first on the Taunton wicket couldn’t get off to the best of starts. Opener Felicia Walters got out to the left-arm orthodox of Ekta Bisht. Mithali Raj brought on the left-arm spinner to bowl on the flat pitch and the plan worked, with Walters edging one to wicketkeeper Sushma Verma.

Just when things were going right for the West Indian team, they lost another wicket to the 19-year-old offie, Deepti Sharma. She picked up the wicket of the in-form West Indian batter Hayley Matthews. The batting line-up thereafter continued to falter, with the wicket of the captain Stefanie Taylor, who was caught short of the crease by a pin-point throw from the Indian fielder Smriti Mandhana.

Poonam Yadav then entered the wicket-taking list, with the scalp of the West Indian wicketkeeper Merissa Aguilleira, who was beaten by a floating delivery, which resulted in an easy stumping for Verma. Deandre Dottin was the last bet for the West Indian team, who’s shot found the long-on fielder Punam Raut.

The injured Harmanpreet Kaur joined the party with the wicket of Kyshona Knight, who’s mistimed shot found the hand of the mid-off fielder. At 91/6, the West Indian team was reeling and struggling to hold on to the momentum of the game. The professional Indian bowling unit picked up the seventh wicket at 121, before a partnership from Shanel Daley and Afy Fletcher, took the Windies to a score of 183 runs for the loss of eight wickets in their 50 overs.

Smriti inspired chase for Team India

In reply, the Team India got off to the worst of starts losing the consistent opener Poonam Raut in the opening over of the innings. West Indian opening bowler Shamilia Connell got the wicket of Poonam, to hand the Windies an early breakthrough and some hope defending a below par total.

Deepti Sharma joined Smriti in the middle of the park in their pursuit of 184 runs to win their second game on the trot in WWC 2017. But the Indians were in for another shocker as West Indies skipper Taylor knocked the stumps of the Indian batter Deepti Sharma, with the score reading 33 for the loss of two wickets.

The ever consistent and composed Indian skipper Mithali Raj then joined the left-hander and the duo struck a chord for the Indian team to eliminate any threats of Windies making a comeback in the game. Mandhana and Mithali tallied the Indian score slowly but steadily to dismiss the hopes of the West Indian bowling unit. They could not find a way to break the partnership before a tame shot from Mithali resulted in her wicket.

The Indian skipper was dismissed for a score of 46, and thus missed a great opportunity of scoring a record 8th consecutive score of fifty plus. While Smriti Mandhana was on the task this time and determined to finish things off for the team. Her century wrapped up a brilliant run chase for Team India, who still are unbeaten in the tournament, with a seven-wicket victory over West Indies.

Smriti Mandhana was named the Player of the match, for her brilliant knock of 106 runs which included 13 boundaries and two sixes.

Brief Scores:

West Indies Women: 183/8 in 50 overs (Hayley 43, Afy 36, Yadav 2/19, Deepti Sharma 2/27 )

India Women: 186/3 in 42.3 overs (Mandhana 106, Mithali Raj 46, Taylor 1/24, Connell 1/23)