Mandhana and Renuka Lead India to Crushing 211-Run Victory Over West Indies
In a scintillating display of batting and bowling, Smriti Mandhana (91 off 102) continued her purple patch, and Renuka Singh (5-29) claimed her maiden ODI fifer, as India crushed West Indies by 211 runs in the opening ODI of the three-match series in Vadodara on Sunday.
India were put in to bat, and the opening duo of Mandhana and debutant Pratika Rawal (40 off 69) made an excellent start, putting on a solid 92-run partnership. Although the initial overs were tight due to accurate bowling by the West Indies, the Indian batters slowly found their rhythm. Rawal, on debut, showed maturity and played an essential role in setting a strong foundation. As the ball got older, Mandhana’s elegance and timing came to the fore. She registered her fifth consecutive fifty-plus score, showcasing her consistency and skill at the top of the order.
Once Rawal was dismissed, Harleen Deol (44 off 50) played a key role in continuing the momentum. She took some time to settle but switched gears in the middle overs, rotating strike and hitting boundaries when needed. The middle order was also in top form, with Harmanpreet Kaur (34 off 23), Jemimah Rodrigues (31 off 19), and Richa Ghosh (26* off 13) all contributing valuable cameos, ensuring that India posted a mammoth total of 314/9 in their 50 overs.
The West Indies bowlers struggled to make a significant impact, and the fielding was sloppy in the latter stages of India’s innings. Left-arm spinner Zaida James (5-45) was the only bright spot for the visitors, showing good discipline and picking up five wickets, including some towards the end as India’s batters threw their bats around for quick runs. However, the West Indies' inability to maintain control and their lack of consistency with the ball meant that they allowed India to set a daunting target.
Chasing 315, the West Indies' hopes rested on their star players, Deandra Dottin and Hayley Matthews, but Renuka Singh quickly shattered those hopes. With the new ball, Renuka was devastating, first removing Matthews for a duck and then claiming the crucial wicket of Qiana Joseph, who was run out after a sharp throw by India’s fielders. Renuka’s early burst had the West Indies reeling at 11/4, and the game was virtually over by then.
Renuka continued her brilliant spell, getting rid of the dangerous Dottin, whose wicket left the West Indies in a perilous position at 26/5. The visitors had no answers to the swinging deliveries and were completely at the mercy of India’s attack. Despite some resistance from Afy Fletcher (24* off 22) and Shermaine Campbell (21 off 39), who helped West Indies avoid total humiliation and take the score past 100, the match was already a one-sided affair. The West Indies’ innings collapsed for just 103 in 26.2 overs, handing India a massive 211-run victory.
Renuka’s exceptional performance with the ball was supported by Priya Mishra (2-22), who also contributed to the downfall of West Indies. The Indian team’s all-round performance in this match was dominant, setting a strong tone for the remainder of the series.
