India-West Indies Women’s T20 series: India extend unbeaten run against Windies
India extended their unbeaten run against West Indies to nine consecutive T20I victories with a dominating 49-run win in the series opener.
After Jemimah Rodrigues (73) and Smriti Mandhana (54) powered India to their highest-ever total of 195/4 against the Caribbean side and their third-highest overall in the format, West Indies responded with 146/7.
At the top, young Qiana Joseph dazzled with a 33-ball 49, while veteran Deandra Dottin (52) recorded her first fifty since making a comeback in T20Is earlier this year, but their efforts were not enough. West Indies’ hopes were dealt a body blow in the second over when substitute fielder Minnu Mani produced a superb athletic catch to see the back of West Indies skipper Hayley Matthews (1) off Titas Sadhu (3/37).
Joseph cracked five fours and three sixes to keep the scoreboard ticking but West Indies could not produce big partnerships in the middle.
Earlier, Rodrigues clobbered nine fours and two sixes to make a superb 73 off 35 balls, producing one of her finest knocks in the shortest format at No 3.
Coming off a fine 105 in her last outing — the final ODI of the Australia tour — Mandhana continued with her rich streak of form to notch up her 28th fifty in the format and sixth of the year. Mandhana’s 54 also took her runs tally past 600 runs in the year while she moved to the fourth spot in the list of highest run-scorers in women’s T20Is in 2024. Mandhana’s knock included seven fours and two sixes.
“Yesterday, I had a chat with Smriti about how to pace my innings. My game plan was simple. Singles off every ball. Loose balls are a bonus. Coach had told me to bat through to the end, so my plan was to take it five overs at a time,” Rodrigues said.
Brief scores: India: 195/4 in 20 overs (Rodrigues 73, Mandhana 54; Ramharack 2/18); West Indies: 146/7 in 20 overs (Dottin 52, Joseph 49; Sadhu 3/37).
