Over time, the DY Patil Stadium has witnessed a few of Smriti Mandhana’s iconic innings, and as worldwide cricket returned to the venue after a hiatus, she was on track once more.
Moreover a cultured 54 (33b, 7×4, 2×6), Smriti went on to forge a pivotal second wicket partnership of 81 off 44 balls with Jemimah Rodrigues (73, 35b, 9×4, 2×6), which finally paved the way in which for India’s 49-run win in opposition to the West Indies within the first ladies’s T20I.
Having scored 4 centuries in a calendar 12 months in WODIs, Smriti now introduced up her sixth half-century of the season in T20Is, as India scored 195 for 4 – its third-highest whole within the format – earlier than limiting the visiting crew to 146 for 7.
Sloppy fielding, dropped catches and erratic bowling let the West Indies down after it opted to bowl first, and the Indian batters made the a lot of the alternative.
IND vs WI 1st WT20I Highlights
Whereas opener Uma Chetry obtained a reprieve and acquired some fast runs earlier than falling to Karishma Ramharack, there was no stopping Smriti and Jemimah.
As 29,000 spectators cheered, Smriti anchored the innings, permitting Jemimah to attain at will. Jemimah hammered just a few boundaries on the leg facet, leaving the West Indies bowlers looking for solutions.
By the point Ramharack dismissed Smriti, India was within the driver’s seat and Richa Ghosh’s 14-ball-20-run cameo meant there was no slip-up for the house crew.
With dew settling in, it was a tough state of affairs to be in for the Indian bowlers. Nonetheless, the younger quick bowler Titas Sadhu (3 for 37) acquired the early breakthrough by dismissing the captain Hayley Matthews on the second ball of her opening over.
Shemaine Campbelle, too, fell to Deepti Sharma early on. However then, there was a glimmer of hope for West Indies with Deandra Dottin and Qiana Joseph forging a 44-run stand for the third wicket. After a reprieve, Dottin got here up with a quickfire 52 off 28 balls, whereas Joseph was heartbroken to have fallen to Sadhu, one wanting a fifty.
As soon as they departed, West Indies’ hopes have been dashed, too.