Indian women’s cricket team defeated West Indies by 155 runs in the 10th match of the ongoing ICC Women’s World Cup 2022, as a result of which, India now take the first place in the points table.
Batting first, Team India had set a target of 318 runs in for the West Indies. Opener Smriti Mandhana and vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur scored centuries for India. Chasing the target, the Caribbean team was bundled out for 162 runs. This is India’s second win of the tournament. With four points, India has jumped from the 5th position to the first position.
Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Yastika Bhatia (31) and Smriti Mandhana gave a quick start to Team India. Mithali Raj, who came to bat after the fall of Yastika’s wicket, returned to the pavilion cheaply after scoring 5 and Deepti Sharma followed her after scoring 15 runs. There was a time when India, despite a good start, lost their three wickets for 78 runs.
Harmanpreet Kaur, who came in at number 5 for Team India, stayed put on with Smriti, scoring a 107 balls 109 runs. With the partnership of 184 runs between Mandhana and Harmanpreet, Team India has managed to cross the 300 runs mark in the World Cup for the first time.
This is Harmanpreet Kaur’s third century in the World Cup and she has become the first Indian woman player to do so, while this is Mandhana’s second century in the history of the competition.
Chasing the target, Deandra Dottin (62) and Hayley Matthews (43) started on a high note adding 100 runs for the first wicket in 12.2 overs. Dottin was batting brilliantly despite the injur. Sneh Rana finally managed to dismiss her, which turned out very crucial.
After Dotin’s wicket fell, the entire West Indies team collapsed like a pack of cards. West Indies were bundled out for 162 runs in just 40.3 overs. After Dotin’s dismissal, the entire team could only add 62 runs. It must be noted that this is West Indies’ first defeat in the tournament.
Team India currently leads the points table with better Net Run Rate (NRR) than Australia, who have a match in hand over India. The Mithali Raj led team will next play England on the 16th March.
