Twitter Reactions: Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur shine as clinical India crush West Indies

Team India registered a comfortable victory over West Indies by a margin of 155 runs in their third game at the 2022 ODI Women’s World Cup being played in Seddon Park, Hamilton. Skipper Mithali Raj after winning the toss opted to bat first in their third match of the tournament.

Indian openers, Yastika Bhatia and Smriti Mandhana, started Innings in an aggressive fashion, scoring 49 runs in 6.3 overs before Bhatia got out after playing a knock of 31 off just 21 balls smashing six boundaries in the process. West Indies then managed to pick few wickets in quick successions with both skipper Mithali Raj and left-handed batter Deepti Sharma getting out cheaply. As a result, India were 78/3 and in a spot of bother.

However, senior batters  Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur then joined hands to stich a valuable partnership of 184 runs. Both Mandhana and Kaur scored their centuries while making them at a good pace as well. As a result, India piled 317 runs in their allotted 50 overs. This was the first time that the women in blue have crossed the 300-run mark in the history of the World Cup.

For West Indies, Anisa Mohammed was pick of the bowlers, scalping two wickets in nine overs. Among others, Shamilia Connell, Hayley Matthews, Shakera Selman, Deandra Dottin and Aaliyah Alleyene managed to pick one wicket apiece.

West Indies collapse from 100/0 to 162 all-out

In reply, West Indies had a perfect start to chase down the humongous total with openers Dottin and Matthews going berserk at top of the order. Both openers stitched a partnership of 100 runs in 12.2 overs before Dottin departed at a score of 62 runs off 46 balls smashing ten boundaries and one six in her innings. As soon as Dottin fell, a collapse followed.

West Indies from 100/0 were reduced to 145/7. Apart from Dottin and Matthews (43 off 36) only two of the other batters Shemaine Campbell 11 runs and Chedean Nation 19 runs managed to get into double digits as they bowed out for 162 runs in 40.3 overs.

For India, Sneh Rana was the best bowler scalping three wickets, pacer Meghna Singh also scalped two wickets. Jhulan Goswami, Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Pooja Vastrakar also managed to pick one wicket each as India registered a comfortable victory by 155 runs. Opener Smriti Mandhana was adjudged player of the match for her knock.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

Wow, jersey no 18 and 7 in men’s cricket ne bahut paseene chudaaye thhey bowlers ke , aur aaj @ImHarmanpreet and @mandhana_smriti ne kammaal kar diya. Brilliant win @BCCIWomen #INDvWI pic.twitter.com/2lCxkXNWDj

— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) March 12, 2022

Harmanpreet Kaur in ODIs since the start of 2014:

In World Cups – Five 50+ scores (1 century) in 11 inns
Outside WC – Four fifties in 54 innings#WWC22 #INDWvWIW

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) March 12, 2022

India are currently at the top of the points table thanks to 155-run triumph #WWC22

— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) March 12, 2022

Jhulan Goswami officially becomes the highest wicket-taker in Women's 50-over World Cups. She now has 40 wickets and surpassed Australia's Lyn Fullston. She achieved the feat after dismissing Anisa Mohammed.#JhulanGoswami #WWC22 #CWC22

— Sabyasachi Chowdhury (@sabya0912) March 12, 2022

Take a bow queens 🙌🙌#SmritiMandhana #HarmanpreetKaur #INDvWI #WWC22 #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/zfCODKKUIG

— WomensCricket_Craze #CWC22 (@Women_in_blue76) March 12, 2022

West Indies' 162/10 is the second lowest all-out total in ODIs (men/women) to involve a century stand.

The lowest is 161 by PAK vs SL in a Men's ODI in 2009 (108 – 4th wkt) while the previous lowest in Women's ODI is 163 by ENG vs AUS in 1985 (106 – 1st wkt). #INDWvWIW #WWC22

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) March 12, 2022

Big win for the girls. Setup by the batters. Finished by the bowlers. The size of this win will take care of the NRR dent India experienced in the previous game. Also, West Indies finally halted. #WWC22 #CricketTwitter

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 12, 2022

Terrific knocks by @mandhana_smriti & @ImHarmanpreet today. 👏
They made batting look effortless!#INDvWI pic.twitter.com/Isx2mjYs9G

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) March 12, 2022

Goddess through the off side 👌🏼 Terrific innings under pressure, well played @mandhana_smriti 👏🏼 #INDvWI #CWC22 pic.twitter.com/1uQRsp1wzL

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) March 12, 2022

This is really nice gesture from Smriti Mandhana. He shared his Player Of The Match Award with Harmanpreet Kaur. She called harmanpreet for the interview also. So beautiful to see this. pic.twitter.com/ht3O5GcD2A

— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) March 12, 2022

Smriti Mandhana who was initially announced as the Player Of The Match told commentators to announce Harmanpreet Kaur as POTM as well.

She said, "Harman deserved the award equally. ICC I believe has enough budget to give both of us seperate trophies (laughs)". pic.twitter.com/x5WzaSVKi9

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 12, 2022

Extremely proud of the team!🇮🇳

Spectacular 💯s from @mandhana_smriti and @ImHarmanpreet! @YastikaBhatia provided the early momentum and @SnehRana15 was phenomenal with the ball. Also, congratulations to @JhulanG10 for the record. #INDvWI #CWC22 pic.twitter.com/wRkd5pWqOW

— Mithali Raj (@M_Raj03) March 12, 2022