Renuka Singh Thakur’s fife and Smriti Mandhana’s 91 take India home in ODI series opener against West Indies

indian women achieved a resounding victory over West Indian Women in the first ODI of their three-match series in Vadodara on Sunday, December 22. The game showed the skill of Smriti Mandhana with the bat and Renuka Singh Thakur with the ball, leading India to a comprehensive victory by 211 runs.

Smriti Mandhana’s Masterclass on Setting Sheet Music

Smriti Mandhana was India’s standout player, scoring a magnificent 91 off 102 balls. His innings was characterized by elegance and aggression as he hit 13 boundaries, demonstrating his ability to find space and rotate the strike effectively.

Mandhana’s innings played a pivotal role in setting a formidable target for West Indies. She anchored the entries after the early dismissal of Pratika Rawal (40), its association with Harleen Deol (44) was particularly crucial as they built a solid foundation for India’s innings. The duo added 70 runs for the second wicket, stabilizing the innings after an early defeat. Mandhana reached his half-century in style, smashing boundaries with ease and maintaining a rapid scoring rate of 89.21.

Mandhana’s dismissal came at a critical time when she was trapped by Zaida Jamesbut by then he had already laid a solid platform for India to post a towering total of 314 runs. The Indian innings also featured contributions from other players, including quick knocks from Harmanpreet Kaur (34 of 23) and Richa Ghosh (26 off 13), propelling India past the 300-run mark.

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Renuka Singh Thakur’s bowling brilliance

On the bowling front, Renuka was nothing short of sensational. She dismantled the West Indies batting line-up with her exceptional bowling performance, claiming five wickets for just 29 runs in her allotted ten overs. Renuka’s spell was instrumental in putting pressure on West Indies from the start.

She struck early in dismissal Hayley Mateos and Joseph Qiana with no runs on the board, leaving West Indies reeling at 0-2 in just two overs. Renuka continued her attack taking crucial wickets from Deandra Dottin (8), Shemaine Campbell (21), and Aaliyah Alleyne (13), effectively ensuring that no West Indies batsman could accommodate. His ability to swing and hold tight lines made it extremely difficult for the West Indies batsmen to score freely. Renuka was voted Player of the Match for her fiftieth.

India thrashed the West Indies in the first match of the series

The match began with India opting to bat first after winning the toss. They posted an impressive total of 314/9 in their 50 overs, with significant contributions from Mandhana and other middle-order batsmen. In response, the West Indies struggled throughout their innings against a disciplined Indian bowling attack.

He West Indies were bowled out for just 103 runs in 26.2 oversmarking a stark contrast to India’s batting display. The fall of wickets was rapid as they lost their first four wickets by just 11 runs. Despite a brief resistance from Campbelle and Afy Fletcher By the end of their innings, it was clear that they were well outmatched.

India’s resounding victory by 211 runs not only sets a positive tone for the series but also highlights their dominance in women’s cricket at home.

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This article was first published in WomenCricket.coma Cricket Times company.