Mandhana, Kaur send Windies women to 56-run loss
EAST LONDON, South Africa (CMC) — West Indies Women buckled under the pressure of unbeaten half-centuries from Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur to crash to a 56-run defeat in their second game of the Twenty20 International Tri-Series here Monday.
Player of the Match Mandhana struck 74 from 51 deliveries and Kaur, 56 off 35 balls — the pair featuring in a 115-run, unbroken, third-wicket stand — as India Women marched to 167 for two off their 20 overs at Buffalo Park.
In reply West Indies Women were limited to 111 for four from their 20 overs, Shemaine Campbelle punching a top score of 47 from 57 deliveries and Captain Hayley Matthews hitting an unbeaten 34 from 29 balls.
Veteran off-spinner Deepti Sharma claimed two for 29 to lead India Women’s attack and hand them their second win in as many matches, following their opening success over South Africa Women.
“India got away with scoring [and] our fielding was a big miss. Hayley couldn’t open as she was dealing with an injury so she had to bat lower down, and in order for us to win she has to bat as early as possible,”
Choosing to bat first, India Women were carried by Mandhana’s enterprise, the silky left-hander carving out 10 fours and a six, first in a 33-run, first-wicket stand with Yastika Bhatia (18) and then in her century stand with Kaur, who counted eight fours.
West Indies Women stumbled early on in their run chase, Deepti knocking over openers Britney Cooper (0) and Rashada Williams (8) before left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad trapped Shabika Gajnabi for three, leaving the innings tottering on 25 for three in the seventh wicket.
Matthews, entering at number five, desperately tried to revive her side’s fortunes, partnering with Campbelle in a 71-run fourth-wicket stand, but both lacked the aggression required to move the run rate forward.
While Campbelle struck five fours and a six Matthews counted five fours, and by the time Campbelle clipped a low, full toss from left-arm spinner Radha Yadav for Amanjot Kaur to take a brilliant diving catch in the deep, West Indies Women still required an impractical 72 from 15 deliveries.
Afy Fletcher, who finished on 10 not out, struck a couple of boundaries in the penultimate over but the game was long gone.
West Indies Women lost their opening game to South Africa Women by 44 runs last weekend.
Scoreboard
INDIA WOMEN
+Yastika Bhatia c wkp Williams b Ramharack 18
Smriti Mandhana not out 74
Harleen Deol lbw b Bruce 12
*Harmanpreet Kaur not out 56
Extras (b1, w6) 7
TOTAL (2 wkts, 20 overs) 167
Did not bat: Jemimah Rodrigues, Devika Vaidya, Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Radha Yadav, Shikha Pandey, Rajeshwari Gayakwad
Fall of wickets: 1-33, 2-52.
Bowling: Bruce 4-0-25-1, Connell 4-0-28-0, Matthews 3-0-32-0, Ramharack 1-0-12-1, Fletcher 4-0-33-0, Schultz 2-0-18-0, Gajnabi 2-0-18-0
WEST INDIES WOMEN
+R Williams st Bhatia b Sharma8
B Cooper lbw b Sharma 0
S Campbelle c A Kaur b Yadav 47
S Gajnabi lbw b Gayakwad 3
*H Matthews not out 34
A Fletcher not out 10
Extras (lb5, w3, nb1) 9
TOTAL (4 wkts, 20 overs) 111
Did not bat: S Bruce, S Connell, K Ramharack, C Nation, K Schultz
Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-20, 3-25, 4-96
Bowling: Pandey 4-0-18-0, Deepti Sharma 4-0-29-2, Gayakwad 4-0-16-1, Radha Yadav 4-0-10-1, Amanjot Kaur 2-0-10-0, Devika Vaidya 2-0-23-0
Result: India Women won by 56 runs.
Points: India Women 2, West Indies Women 0
Player of the Match: Smriti Mandhana
Toss: India Women
Umpires: Lauren Agenbag, Philip Vosloo