India achieved a 115-run victory against the West Indies in the second ODI, and clinched the series, with the third and final match scheduled at Kotambi Stadium on Friday.
India 358 for 5 (Deol 115, Rawal 76, Mandhana 53, Rodrigues 52) beat West Indies 238 (Matthews 106, Campbell 38, Mishra 3-49, Rawal 2-37, Deepti 2-40, Sadhu 2-42) by 115 runs.
Elected to bat first India racked up a formidable 358/5, their joint-highest total in ODIs. The footing of the inning was laid by Smriti Mandhana and debutant Pratika Rawal, who shared their second consecutive century stand as openers.
Rawal looked calm and confident after her earlier nervous debut. With an aggressive tone, she scored her maiden ODI fifty with a score of 76 runs. While Mandhana continued her good form with her 29th ODI fifty, she became the leading run-scorer in women’s ODIs for this year.
Mandhana’s inning ended in an unfortunate run-out due to a mix-up with Rawal. However, instead of displaying frustration, the Indian vice-captain offered Rawal a reassuring pat on the back, highlighting the team’s camaraderie.
Then Harleen Deol took center stage and scored ranked as her first hundred for the international team doing her duty at the No. 3 position. Deol had only just recovered from a severe knee injury, so her effort was a wonderful answer to the faith the team management had shown in her.
Dropped when she had made only 20 runs, Dottin capitalized on the second chance to score her hundred off 98 balls. With Jemimah Rodrigues contributing a quick fifty off just 34, Dottin’s innings formed the bedrock of the Indian middle-order performance. The duo strung together a magnificent partnership of 116 runs at a strike rate of over 163.
Hayley Matthews had a great day, making a spectacular hundred, with this being her seventh in ODIs. She kept taking on India’s spinners, especially legspinner Priya Mishra, exhibiting a good reading of the game. She scored 109 runs off 99 deliveries with a repertoire of strokes, but her batting mates gave her scant support.
Shemaine Campbelle stood out, providing stiff resistance with her 38 runs, and with Matthews added an impressive showing, they added 112 runs for the fifth wicket. So as quite phenomenal as Matthews was, the West Indies ended up being short on this occasion with 286 runs from 48.4 overs.
Having a role in running out Mandhana, instead of being upset encouraged her with a pat on the back as she walked off, this day that Rawal and the team had will not be forgotten soon. But it will be exciting to watch the next 3rd ODI Match between India and West Indies on 27th December at Vadodara International Cricket Stadium, whether India will have a clean sweep or, West Indies will bounce back.
Read More: ICC Announced Champions Trophy 2025 Schedule: India and Pakistan to Meet in Dubai on February 23
