India trounced West Indies by 56 runs in the Women’s T20I Tri-Series, with Smriti Mandhana and captain Harmanpreet Kaur both scoring impressive unbeaten half-centuries. India got off to a strong start in their innings, scoring 167 for two in just 20 overs after winning the toss and choosing to bat. Then, in order to pull out a second straight victory in the series, they held their opponents to a score of 111 for four. With only one delivery left in the power play, off-spinner Karishma Ramharack removed openers Yastika Bhatia for 18 after they had put together a 33-run partnership.
Yastika attempted to drive over covers when Ramharack sent the ball outside of her, but she ultimately played away from her body. The opening gave wicketkeeper Rashada Williams an easy catch thanks to a thin outside edge. Harleen Deol was introduced after she was dismissed, but she didn’t remain long as she was caught in front while attempting to flick the ball off-side to pacer Shanika Bruce. The young middle-order hitter missed the stroke in her initial reaction to the length ball, and the ball struck her on the front pad.
There were a few stressful moments at 52 for two, but as Mandhana and Harmanpreet teamed up, boundaries were freely crossed. Harmanpreet, who was leading the team again after missing the tri-series opener allegedly due to illness, was in top form as she slammed a 35-ball 51 that included eight boundaries. Mandhana was equally aggressive after struggling with the bat in the first game against South Africa, blasting 74 off only 51 deliveries as the pair batted together for over 12 overs to lead India to a respectable total.
Mandhana scored 10 boundaries and a six against South Africa Women in the tri-series opener before she was removed for seven runs. The opposition used seven bowlers to end the partnership. It was always going to be difficult to reach the mark of 167, but India’s spinners, led by Radha Yadav, throttled the runs while giving away very few through loose deliveries. The 22-year-old Radha bowled four overs for just 10 runs while dismissing Shemaine Campbelle (47), who took 57 deliveries to complete.
When West Indies reached 96 for four with only 15 deliveries left when Campbelle was out trying to pull off a full toss but holing out to Amanjot Kaur at deep mid-wicket, the match was all but over. In the end, a target of 167 proved too difficult to reach for the team’s captain Hayley Matthews and Afy Fletcher, who both struggled to get the runs flowing.
Brief scores:India Women 167 for 2 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 74 n.o., Harmanpreet Kaur 56 n.o.) beat West Indies Women 111 for 4 in 20 overs (Shemaine Campbelle 47, Hayley Matthews 34 n.o.; Deepti Sharma 2/24, Radha Yadav 1/10) by 56 runs.