Over the years, the DY Patil Stadium has witnessed some of Smriti Mandhana’s iconic innings, and as international cricket returned to the venue after a hiatus, she was on song again.
Besides a classy 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 eventually paved the way for India’s 49-run win against the West Indies in the first women’s T20I.
Having scored four centuries in a calendar year in WODIs, Smriti now brought up her sixth half-century of the season in T20Is, as India scored 195 for 4 – its third-highest total in the format – before restricting the visiting team 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 most of the opportunity.
IND vs WI 1st WT20I Highlights
While opener Uma Chetry received a reprieve and got some quick runs before falling to Karishma Ramharack, there was no stopping Smriti and Jemimah.
As 29,000 spectators cheered, Smriti anchored the innings, allowing Jemimah to score at will. Jemimah hammered a few boundaries on the leg side, leaving the West Indies bowlers searching for answers.
By the time Ramharack dismissed Smriti, India was in the driver’s seat and Richa Ghosh’s 14-ball-20-run cameo meant there was no slip-up for the home team.
With dew settling in, it was a tricky situation to be in for the Indian bowlers. However, the young fast bowler Titas Sadhu (3 for 37) got 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. But 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 came up with a quickfire 52 off 28 balls, whereas Joseph was heartbroken to have fallen to Sadhu, one short of a fifty.
Once they departed, West Indies’ hopes were dashed, too.
