IND-W vs WI-W: Mandhana, Jemimah guide India Women to record win in 1st T20I-OxBig News Network

India became the first team to win a Women’s T20I at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai after batting first. On Sunday, December 15, Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. defeated Hayley Matthews’ West Indies by 49 runs in the opening game to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series.

India vs West Indies, 1st T20I Highlights

Earlier, four Women’s T20Is in Navi Mumbai out of five went in favour of the chasing teams. One match between India and Australia back in 2022 was tied. Defending 195, India restricted the visiting team to 146 for seven in 20 overs. For West Indies, Deandra Dottin’s 52-run knock off 28 balls went in vain.

Jemimah steps up for India

After being asked to bat first, India did not take their foot off the gas at any stage. Smriti Mandhana and Uma Chetry laid the platform with a 50-run stand for the opening wicket off 6.3 overs. Chetry scored 24 runs before Karishma Ramharack castled her, but Mandhana went on to make 54 off 33 with seven fours and two sixes.

But it was Jemimah Rodrigues who stood out amongst the Indian batters. Batting at No.3, Jemimah made 73 runs off 35 balls with nine fours and two sixes. Her 28-ball fifty was also her fastest in her T20I career. Richa Ghosh also chipped in with a 20-run knock. Ramharack was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4-0-18-2.

Titas Sadhu steps up

West Indies lost the early wicket of Hayley Matthews after Titas Sadhu gave India the initial breakthrough. Minnu Mani, who was a substitute for Harmanpreet, who had an injury scare, took a stunning diving catch to send Matthews packing. After Shemaine Campbelle perished cheaply, Qiana Joseph and Deandra Dottin took charge of the innings.

Joseph played some spectacular shots to make 49 off 33 before Sadhu accounted for her wicket. Dottin rode her luck after Jemimah and Mandhana dropped her twice. But she ran out of luck after holing out to Radha Yadav at long on. Dottin scored 52 runs off 28 balls with four fours and three sixes.

But after Dottin perished, West Indies could not stay alive in the game. Sadhu had figures of 4-0-37-3 while Deepti Sharma and Radha took two wickets apiece.