NEW DELHI: The opening ODI of the series between India Women and West Indies Women at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara witnessed a dominant performance from the hosts.
After winning the toss, West Indies opted to field first.
India’s openers, Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal, laid a solid foundation with a 110-run partnership. Mandhana’s aggressive 91 off 102 balls, laced with 13 boundaries, set the tone for India’s innings.
The middle-order batters, including Richa Ghosh, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Deepti Sharma, contributed with their cameos, propelling India to a formidable total of 314/9.
“Feeling very good. First five-wicket haul in ODIs and I am happy because everyone backed me so much (to get that five-wicket haul). I have worked a lot on my fitness and hence could bowl eight overs on the trot, and that proves my fitness (On the swing she was getting). The wicket was helping us, the weather got colder. I wanted to hit the right areas and I got assistance (from the pitch),” Renuka Singh said after the match.
West Indies’ bowling attack struggled to contain the Indian batters on a surface that offered assistance to the seamers.
In response, West Indies’ batting lineup faltered against the disciplined Indian bowling attack. Renuka Singh, the Indian pacer, was the standout performer, claiming her maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs.
Her incisive spell, coupled with contributions from Priya Mishra, Titas Sadhu, and Deepti Sharma, bundled out West Indies for a paltry 103, handing India a comprehensive 211-run victory.
Renuka Singh’s exceptional performance, which included figures of 5/23, earned her the Player of the Match award. Her ability to exploit the conditions and hit the right areas consistently proved instrumental in India’s dominant win.
The massive victory also gave India an early lead in the ODI series.
Both teams will look to analyze their performances and make necessary adjustments as they prepare for the remaining matches of the series.
