Smriti Mandhana opened up on how she motivated Team India to end their five-year-long wait to win a Women’s T20I series on home soil. Since September 2019, India could not secure a series win at home in five series on the trot. But on Thursday, December 19, the Women in Blue defeated Hayley Matthews’ West Indies by 60 runs to win the series 2-1.
India Women vs West Indies Women, 3rd T20I Updates
India started the series with a thumping 49-run win, but slumped to a nine-wicket defeat in the second game on Tuesday. In the decider, India recorded their highest team total of 217 for four after which they restricted the visitors to 157 for nine.
“After the last match, I told the girls it has been five years that we have not won a T20I series. That does not reflect the team we are. I told them that today, we have an opportunity to do that and we just want to keep doing the right things,” Mandhana said in the post-match presentation ceremony.
‘Raghvi was impressive’
Mandhana also had high praise for youngster Raghvi Bist, who scored an unbeaten 31 off 22 balls with two fours and a six. Mandhana, who made 77 runs and took down a number of T20I records, said that she was awestruck with Raghvi’s strokeplay.
“The way Raghvi batted was impressive. She came in with lots of intent and hitting her fourth or fifth ball for six, I would not have been able to do that in my second match,” Mandhana said.
Richa Ghosh was also at her very best after she smashed the joint-fastest fifty in Women’s T20Is off 18 balls, equalling Sophie Devine and Phoebe Litchfield’s record.
“Richa’s innings was also amazing, as it was the other day, but could not appreciate that unfortunately because of the result,” Mandhana added.
After the T20Is, India are now set to face the West Indies in a three-match ODI series from December 22 onwards.
