India-West Indies women’s ODI series: Deol steals show in run fest

Harleen Deol underscored her growing maturity with an impressive maiden hundred, which proved to be the foundation of India’s 115-run win over West Indies in the second Women’s ODI here on Tuesday. The victory also propelled India to an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Deol (115 off 103 balls, with 16 fours) powered India to a record-equalling 358/5. She received ample support from Pratika Rawal (76 off 86 balls, with 10 fours and 1 six), Smriti Mandhana (53 off 47 balls, with 7 fours and 2 sixes) and Jemimah Rodrigues (52 off 36 balls, with 6 fours and 1 six) as four India batters registered fifty-plus scores in an ODI for only the second time.

The task of chasing 359 was always going to be out of Windies’ reach, and they were bowled out for 243 despite skipper Hayley Matthews making a flowing hundred (106 off 109 balls, with 13 fours).

The writing on the wall was clear once the Indian bowlers reduced West Indies to 69/4 inside the first 20 overs. But Matthews added 112 runs for the fifth wicket with Shemaine Campbelle (38) to delay the inevitable.

It is a very proud moment for me. When I was in rehab, that was what I was thinking about day in, day out.

Harleen Deol

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Deol (98 balls) became only the second Indian woman after Harmanpreet Kaur to reach a hundred in fewer than 100 balls358/5

The joint-highest total for India in women’s ODIs, matching their 358/2 against Ireland in Potchefstroom in 2017. It is also the highest total against West Indies in women’s ODIs

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Instances of India posting a total of 300 or more in 2024, the most for them in a calendar year. It is also the first instance of India posting consecutive 300-plus totals

743

Mandhana overtook South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt as the highest run-scorer in women’s ODIs in 2024. Her tally of 743 is the best for her in a calendar year

Matthews, who reached her seventh ODI hundred in 99 balls, stood out for the power and precision until she fell to off-spinner Rawal.

The Indian bowlers also deserve a good chunk of credit for sticking to good lines on a slightly spongy wicket. They attacked the stumps regularly and leg-spinner Priya Mishra was splendid while mixing up leg-breaks and googlies.

Priya (3/49), pacer Titas Sadhu (2/42) and seasoned spinner Deepti Sharma (2/40) were the pick of Indian bowlers.

Earlier, Deol’s impressive coming-of-age hundred powered India’s batting effort that saw them equalling their highest-ever ODI total, which was also the highest total any team has made against the Caribbean team.

The Indian management will be mighty pleased by Deol’s hundred as she marked her growth as an all-field player from a predominantly off-side batter during this knock.

Not precisely a power-hitter, the right-hander has added more nuances to her batting through the ability to find angles and gaps.

It was evident when she peppered Deandra Dottin for three fours through fine leg, point and behind point to move into the 90s. Her 100 came along in 98 balls with a nicely-timed boundary off pacer Shamilia Connell.

But for an imposing total, India should also thank Mandhana and Rawal for adding 110 runs for the opening wicket in just 16.3 overs, their second successive 100-run partnership in ODIs.

They hardly looked in any trouble until some lethargic running between the wickets resulted in Mandhana’s run out. Rawal, who raised her maiden ODI fifty in 58 balls, looked well settled for a hundred in only her second 50-overs game, but the right-hander failed to negotiate Zaida James’ delivery with a bit of extra bounce, scooping it to Qiana Joseph at short mid-wicket. She added 62 runs for the second wicket with Deol.

Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur could not produce a big one, getting bowled in her attempt to slog sweep Afy Fletcher’s full-length delivery. West Indies might have hoped for some respite after Harmanpreet’s dismissal, but Rodrigues joined Deol to add a further 116 runs in a little over 12 overs for the fourth wicket.

Rodrigues, who reached fifty off just 34 balls, was at her innovative best as she clobbered Connell for four boundaries in an over as India motored in the backend of the innings. Deol fell to Qiana soon but that had little impact on the proceedings.

Brief scores: India: 358/5 in 50 overs (Doel 115, Rawal 76, Mandhana 53, Rodrigues 52; Fletcher 1/38); West Indies: 243 all out in 46.2 overs (Matthews 106, Campbelle 38; Mishra 3/49, Rawal 2/37, Deepti 2/40, Sadhu 2/42).