Explore the highlights of India’s series-sealing 115-run victory, featuring exceptional contributions from Harleen Deol and Hayley Matthews.
Introduction:
India sealed an emphatic ODI series victory over West Indies with a comprehensive win in the second match. The day witnessed spectacular performances, including Harleen Deol’s maiden international century and Hayley Matthews’ valiant hundred for the visitors. While India showed a clinical all-round display, West Indies failed to keep up with their opponents, despite moments of resistance led by Matthews.
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India’s Record-Breaking Innings
India’s innings was a batting masterclass, posting a formidable 358/5, their joint-highest ODI total. The foundation was laid by Smriti Mandhana and debutant Pratika Rawal, who forged their second consecutive century opening stand in the series.
Mandhana’s Consistency
Mandhana continued her prolific form and emerged as the highest run-scorer in women’s ODIs this year. She simply muscled spinners and paced her innings with finesse, raising her 29th ODI half-century off just 44 balls. Her partnership with Rawal gave India a flying start, and when she eventually departed, she was an unfortunate run-out caused by a miscommunication with her partner.
Rawal’s Breakthrough Performance
Pratika Rawal, who seemed more confident than in her debut, played with purpose and intent. She made her first half-century and scored 76 runs before getting out to a soft dismissal. She was not just a batswoman; Rawal impressed with tight bowling spells and sharp fielding, including an excellent catch and a run-out assist.
Harleen Deol’s Maiden Century
The standout performance of the day was Harleen Deol’s maiden international century. Batting at No. 3, Deol overcame early jitters and capitalized on a dropped catch to build a commanding innings.
A Patient Start and Aggressive Finish
Deol reached her half-century in 62 balls but shifted gears brilliantly in the death overs, bringing up her century off 98 deliveries. She anchored India’s innings while accelerating in the latter stages, driving India’s total beyond the reach of the West Indies.
Partnership with Rodrigues
The highlight of the match was the partnership between Deol and Jemimah Rodrigues. They scored 116 runs off just 71 balls with Rodrigues playing an attacking role. Rodrigues’ 34-ball half-century was full of strike rotation and finding boundaries easily, complementing Deol’s steady approach perfectly.
India’s explosive finish saw the team score 184 in the last 20 overs, which is an outstanding improvement from the 160 runs they scored in the first ODI.
Challenges of West Indies during chasing
Chase for the mammoth 359: West Indies took an utterly cautious approach, and how different from their free-flourishing style is. Renuka Singh probed with in-swingers into the top order; indeed, the visitors took just three maidens from the first seven overs.
Solo battle by Hayley Matthews
Hayley Matthews was the lone warrior for West Indies, compiling a majestic hundred under pressure. Her seventh ODI hundred came off 99 balls, with her showcasing brilliance against both spin and pace. Matthews attacked Indian spinners, particularly Priya Mishra, with calculated aggression. However, she only reduced the margin of defeat since she was hardly supported by her team-mates.
Shemaine Campbelle’s Resistance
The other resistance to her was Shemaine Campbelle, who made 38 runs, but in a fifth-wicket stand worth 112 runs with Matthews. All this did not make the rest of the batting lineup come close to Matthews in terms of quality, and one saw the over-reliance of the West Indies on their captain.
Renuka Singh Shines Again
Renuka Singh went on to dominate the ball further, adding to the five-wicket haul from the first ODI. She dismissed Deandra Dottin with an exceptional in-swinger, one which had no answer but flatten her stumps. The woes of the West Indies’ fragile batting lineup mounted with Renuka’s control and variety.
Takeaways: India Depth
India’s performance is also showing the depth they are building in batting and bowling. The young talent Rawal, the resurgence of Deol, and the consistency of experienced players like Mandhana will surely provide a strong foundation for the upcoming World Cup.
West Indies’ Fighting Spirit
While West Indies failed to do so, the fact that they could almost bat out the 50 overs after a disastrous start is a good sign. Matthews’ century was a testament to her world-class abilities, but the team’s heavy dependence on her is a cause for concern.
The Road Ahead
With the series already decided, the third ODI provides an opportunity for India to test their bench strength and further refine their strategies. West Indies will look to salvage some pride and address their batting vulnerabilities before moving on to the next challenge.