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Hayley Matthews’ brilliant century wasn’t enough as the West Indies were bowled out for 238 in their chase of 359. While Matthews fought valiantly, she had no support from her teammates, unlike Harleen Deol, who had the backing of three other half-centurions in India’s innings. Despite Matthews’ efforts, the West Indies’ chase fell short, and […]
Hayley Matthews’ brilliant century wasn’t enough as the West Indies were bowled out for 238 in their chase of 359. While Matthews fought valiantly, she had no support from her teammates, unlike Harleen Deol, who had the backing of three other half-centurions in India’s innings. Despite Matthews’ efforts, the West Indies’ chase fell short, and they were unable to keep up with the demanding target.
The match ultimately ended in another one-sided result, giving India an unassailable lead in the ODI series with one game still to play. However, the West Indies displayed much more fight compared to their previous performance, battling hard to last almost the full 50 overs. Though they never truly looked in control, their resilience was a positive takeaway from a tough contest.
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West Indies’ response to India’s daunting total of 358 for 5 – their joint-highest ODI score – was cautious and measured. They endured three maidens in the first seven overs, two of which came from Renuka Singh, who had destroyed their top order with in-swinging deliveries in the first ODI, claiming a five-for. This approach highlighted the West Indies’ focus on survival rather than the aggressive batting they are known for, as they struggled to find their rhythm against India’s varied bowling attack.
As the innings progressed, it became clear how significant the gap was between Matthews and the rest of the West Indies batting lineup. While Matthews remained resolute, the others seemed unsure of their defense, failing to bat long enough to build a substantial partnership. The Indian attack, with its mix of pace and spin, posed a tough challenge, and only Deandra Dottin could claim to have fallen victim to a perfect delivery – a superb in-ducker from Renuka that flattened her stumps.
Aside from Matthews, the only notable fight from the West Indies came from wicketkeeper Shemaine Campbelle, who contributed a fighting 38 in a fifth-wicket stand worth 112 runs. Matthews, on the other hand, was ruthless against India’s spinners, particularly legspinner Priya Mishra, whom she read expertly. She was quick to punish any loose deliveries from the pacers as well. After reaching 70, Matthews unleashed her full array of strokes, bringing up her seventh ODI century off 99 balls. However, her remarkable innings only managed to reduce the margin of defeat, as the West Indies fell short in the chase.
The standout performance of the day came from Harleen Deol, who, after recovering from a knee injury and being on crutches just five months ago, repaid the faith shown by the team management with her maiden international century at No.3. Deol was fortunate to survive an early drop on 20 by Dottin at square leg, but she made the West Indies pay for the mistake. She gradually built her innings, reaching her half-century off 62 balls, before shifting gears in the final overs to bring up her century off 98 deliveries. Her composed innings provided the backbone for India’s formidable total.
Deol found an ideal partner in Jemimah Rodrigues, as the two put on a thrilling 116-run stand off just 71 balls for the fourth wicket. Rodrigues was exceptional, particularly against spin, playing a series of deft shots that showcased her versatility. She lofted deliveries over cover, paddled shots past fine leg, and pulled with ease, displaying an effortless acceleration in her innings. Rodrigues reached her half-century off just 34 balls before being dismissed attempting to hit out at a waist-high full toss. The partnership was a key moment in India’s dominance as they added a massive 184 runs in the last 20 overs.
In addition to Deol and Rodrigues’ contributions, Richa Ghosh added a valuable unbeaten 13 in the lower order, showing that India’s total was built on more than just their top-order exploits. The 184 runs in the final 20 overs was a significant improvement compared to their previous match, where they only managed 160 in the same phase. Deol’s performance, in particular, was a reflection of her growing confidence at the crease and her ability to accelerate when needed.
Earlier in the innings, Smriti Mandhana and debutant Pratika Rawal provided a solid foundation with a second consecutive century opening stand. Rawal, looking far more confident than her debut on Sunday, played with intent and struck the ball well, helping India get off to a strong start. Mandhana, who became the highest run-scorer in women’s ODIs this year, continued her form from the series opener, showing both strength and finesse. Rawal was outscoring Mandhana until the eighth over, but Mandhana soon caught up and surpassed her to raise her 29th half-century. The pair brought up their century partnership before Rawal fell for 76, missing out on a chance to convert her first half-century into a maiden international hundred. Despite the dismissal, Rawal had a memorable day with two wickets, a brilliant catch, and tight bowling, making it a performance that both she and the team management will remember fondly.
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