NAVI MUMBAI, Dec 19: Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh struck quickfire fifties as India outplayed West Indies by 60 runs to clinch the three-match women’s T20I series 2-1 here on Thursday.
It was also the home side’s first T20I series win at home since October 2019.
Stand-in skipper Mandhana continued her red-hot form with a making 77 off 47 balls, before Richa Ghosh’s 18-ball fifty powered India to a record 217/4, India’s highest in the format.
Mandhana, leading in the absence of Harmanpreet Kaur, struck 13 fours and a six.
Following her dismissal, Richa (54, 21b; 3×4, 5×6) took charge to equal Sophie Devine and Phoebe Litchfield’s record for the fastest half-century in Women’s T20Is.
After a strong batting performance, the bowlers stepped up to take India home.
West Indies never posed a threat to the big chase to be restricted to 157/9.
Chinelle Henry waged a lone battle for the visitors with a quick 16-ball 43 but there was no support for her at the other end.
Left-arm spinner Radha Yadav led India’s bowling show, returning with 4/29.
After being put in to bat first, India lost the early wicket of Uma Chetry, but Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues laid the platform with a 98-run partnership.
Afy Fletcher broke the stand after dismissing Jemimah, who scored 39 off 28. Mandhana went on to score her 30th fifty off 27 balls, after which she finished at 77 off 47 balls with 13 fours and a six.
Raghvi Bist faltered on debut in the second T20I, but gave a decent account of her skills under pressure. The right-hander scored an unbeaten 31 off 22 balls.
But it was Richa who went bonkers in the death overs, racing to 54 off 21 balls with three fours and five sixes.
Chinelle Henry, Deandra Dottin, Aaliyah Alleyne, who replaced Ashmini Munisar, and Fletcher took one wicket apiece.
In reply, West Indies crumbled against a mountainous target and crawled to 157/9 in their 20 overs, as left-arm spinner Radha Yadav returned with a four-wicket haul.
The West Indies could never really attain any momentum and lost Qiana Joseph (11) early, while mainstays Hayley Matthews (22) and Deandra Dottin (25) also fell cheaply which severely hampered the visitors’ hopes.
For the West Indies, it was always going to be a tall order, chasing the massive target of 218. Qiana Joseph, who played a couple of blinders in the first two games, struggled for 11 runs off 13 balls before Sajeevan Sajana dismissed her.
Hayley Matthews and Dottin made 22 and 25 respectively, failing to make their starts count.
Shemaine Campbell threatened in her 17-run knock before Deepti Sharma removed her.
Chinelle Henry came out firing on all cylinders, taking the attack to the opposition bowlers. Renuka Singh dismissed the batter after she made 43 off 16 with three fours and four sixes. After Henry departed, it was only a matter of time before India won as West Indies finished at 157 for nine. The two teams will now engage in a three-match ODI series in Vadodara from Sunday. (Agencies)
