Deepti Sharma’s all-round show and Renuka Singh’s early strikes helped India defeat West Indies by 5 wickets to clean-sweep the series 3-0. (X/BCCI Women)
It wasn’t an ideal win to finish the year, but with just 10 months to go for the World Cup, India showed they are on the right track in the 50-over format. The series was already sewn up, after well-rounded performances in the last two matches. On Friday, Deepti Sharma’s all-round show and Renuka Singh’s early strikes helped India defeat West Indies by 5 wickets to clean-sweep the series 3-0.
As it was in the first two ODIs, nothing went the West Indies way. For a 9.30 am start, they chose to bat first, though pacers would have enjoyed the moisture on the surface. But Hayley Mathews admitted post-match that the under-fire batting line-up was more concerned about how the pitch would behave in the second half, where spinners would extract considerable help.
To avoid a clean-sweep, all they needed was a batting effort that would have carried them past 200. If they had seen off the new ball, they were in with a chance, but it is easier said than done when Renuka is on song. Off the first ball, which was a gentle loosener down the leg-side, Qiana Joseph managed to nick the ball to wicket-keeper Richa Ghosh.
𝙒𝙄𝙉𝙉𝙀𝙍𝙎!
Congratulations #TeamIndia on winning the #INDvWI ODI series 3️⃣-0️⃣ 👏👏 🏆@IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/ki0aw8Jjks
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) December 27, 2024
Off the last ball, Renuka showed why she is lethal when the pitch aids swing. Hayley, despite her experience, was crease-stuck. She could have moved forward to cut down the movement, but she did not. Thus Hayley had little chance to survive as Renuka’s banana swing rattled the woodwork. Renuka wasn’t finished. Off her fourth over, Deandra Dottin gifted the Indian seamer her third wicket. Rooted to the crease like Hayley, she went for a leg-side heave and lost the stumps. West Indies tottered to 9/3. Thereafter, Shemaine Campbelle and Chinelle Henry did a commendable job to resurrect a side that was hell-bent on self-imploding. With India attacking, they found the boundaries and steadied the ship. The pitch too began to ease out.
Deepti impact
That’s when Deepti took control of the game. She was the last one to be introduced into the attack, but her subtle change of pace and trajectory suited the conditions. It has not been her season so far, but from the moment she came to bowl, wickets seemed inevitable.
First up, she had Campbelle hole out at long-on where Pratika Rawal positioned herself to take a good catch. In her next over, she invited Zaida James to an expansive drive, only for it to take the edge to Harmanpreet Kaur at slip. Chinelle waged a lonely battle, combining power and deft touches to a 72-ball 61. But an error in judgment brought her downfall. Having played the late-cut, she premeditated another. But Deepti bowled one fuller, and Chinelle missed it altogether. The visitors slipped to 141/6. But with 18 overs to come, 200 remained a possibility.
𝘿𝙊 𝙉𝙊𝙏 𝙈𝙄𝙎𝙎!
Deepti Sharma put on a show in Vadodara today! 👍 👍
Relive her 6⃣-wicket haul 🎥 🔽#TeamIndia | #INDvWI | @Deepti_Sharma06 | @IDFCFIRSTBank https://t.co/239JRR14Sh
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) December 27, 2024
However, the moment Aaliyah Alleyne gave a simple catch to Jemimah Rodrigues at short-midwicket – the batter was undone by the slowness of the pitch– West Indies began to unravel fast. Afy Fletcher was Deepti’s fifth, falling almost identically to Alleyne. Ashmini Munisar gifted Deepti her sixth wicket before Renuka returned to remove Mandy Mangru as the two shared 10 wickets between them.
A chase of 163 was supposed to be a smooth ride. But it did not turn out to be one. Smriti Mandhana departed for 4 and Harleel Deol left with India reeling at 23/2. Even as Pratika was getting her eye in, Harmanpreet came in and played three gorgeous drives that took the pressure off. But in the space of three overs, India lost both Pratika and Harmanpreet, both self-destructing. Then Jemimah, who has been full of intent in the format, combined with Deepti to stitch a 50-run partnership that took India close to the target before she perished with 38 runs required.
3⃣ Quick Strikes, ft. Renuka Singh Thakur 🙌 🙌
Relive those wickets 🎥 🔽#TeamIndia | #INDvWI | @IDFCFIRSTBank
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) December 27, 2024
But Deepti, who didn’t waste the balls, found an ideal partner in Richa as India wrapped up the game in 28.2 overs.
Brief scores: West Indies 162 in 38.5 overs (Henry 61, Campbelle 46, Deepti 6-31, Renuka 4-29) lost to India 167/5 in 28. 2 overs (Deepti 39 n.o, Harmanpreet 32, Rodrigues 29, Ghosh 23*) beat by five wickets.
I’m Manas Ranjan Sahoo: Founder of “Webtirety Software”. I’m a Full-time Software Professional and an aspiring entrepreneur, dedicated to growing this platform as large as possible. I love to Write Blogs on Software, Mobile applications, Web Technology, eCommerce, SEO, and about My experience with Life.
