INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
NEW DELHI: India produced an all-round performance to register a comfortable six-wicket victory over West Indies in their Group 2 match on
Wednesday in Cape Town, their second consecutive win at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup
India defeated arch-rivals Pakistan in their campaign opener
Wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh scored a match-winning 44 not out, off 32 balls, and added a valuable 72-run partnership for the fourth
wicket with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (33 off 42) to take India home with 11 balls to spare.As it happened: India vs West IndiesRicha hit the
winning runs, a four off Shamilia Connell in the penultimate over, as India chased down the below-par 119-run target in 18.1 overs with six
wickets in hand.Earlier, Deepti Sharma (3/15) led India bowlers restricted the West Indies for just 118 for 6 in their 20 overs
In the process, the 'Player of the Match' Deepti also became the first Indian to take 100 T20I wickets.Deepti spun a web around the West
Indies batters after being asked to bowl
The seasoned off-spinner picked three West Indies wickets for India.Needing less than run a ball, India were off to an electric start with
openers Shafali Verma (28) and Smriti Mandhana (10) taking the team total to 31 in four overs on the back of six fours.But India lost the
momentum as slow bowling did the trick for West Indies.Mandhana missed off-spinner Karishma Ramharack's (2/14) ball completely, resulting in
an easy stumping for wicketkeeper Rasha Williams
Last game match-winner Jemimah Rodrigues (1) became Hayley Matthews (1/12) first and only victim of the day as the skipper took a stellar
After two low-scoring overs, Shafali tried to up the ante only to be caught at long leg and West Indies picked three wickets in quick
succession.Harmanpreet took her time to settle down before hitting back-to-back fours off Afy Fletcher (0/24) in the ninth over
Richa did what she does best -- finish the game
The youngster hit five fours, including one to finish off the match in her unbeaten 32-ball innings
She took India to 119 for 4 in 18.1 overs.Earlier, Pooja Vastrakar (1/21), opening with the new ball, gave India the early breakthrough,
getting rid of the dangerous Hayley Matthew (2), striking on her very first ball.The West Indies skipper was done in by the extra bounce as
Richa Ghosh completed a regulation catch.Pooja continued to put pressure on the West Indies, bowling a wicket maiden.Shemaine Campbelle (30)
hit West Indies' first boundary in the third over, slapping a Renuka Singh (1/22) delivery past square leg.The introduction of spin led to
West Indies collecting 12 runs, including two fours from Rajeshwari Gayakwad's over.West Indies were 53 for 1 at the halfway mark
Campbelle and Stefanie Taylor (42) steadied the West Indies innings as they slowly but steadily stitched a 73-run partnership
The two shared nine boundaries between them.However, twin strikes from the ever-reliable Deepti led to a mini batting collapse
The off-spinner first punished Campbelle for going for a reverse sweep with Smriti Mandhana completing a lovely catch at short third.Three
balls later, she trapped Taylor leg before which was initially deemed not out by the umpire but India successfully reviewed the decision and
got it changed.Chinelle Henry (2) was the next to go as Mandhana and Richa affected her run out.India were able to stem the flow of runs but
their fielding was found wanting
Deepti dropped Chedean Nation on 3 in the 16th over.Nation and Shabika Gajnabi (15) took West Indies past the 100-run mark.Deepti reached
the 100-wicket milestone in the last over when she bamboozled Aly Fletcher (0).(With inputs from PTI)
