IND vs WI: Smriti Mandhana finds a supporting cast, Renuka Singh Thakur takes five wickets in India’s impressive win Cricket News

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There was a new feeling in Vadodara on Sunday. A new international stadium, a new ODI kit for India, and Harmanpreet Kaur started the day at the toss saying she felt like a new player making her debut after missing the last two T20Is due to injury. To go well with that setting, it was a fresh display of positive cricket from India as they thrashed West Indies by 212 runs in the first ODI at the Kotambi Stadium to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. In terms of run margin, it was India’s second biggest win in women’s ODI history.

Smriti Mandhana, the most familiar side for India that day, continued her stellar form, now in a deep purple patch. He fell short of his record-extending fifth ODI century of the year by just nine runs, but his 91 became the cornerstone of India’s innings after Hayley Mathews won the next toss and elected to field first. But what pleases India the most is the contribution of the supporting cast around Mandhana, who has recently become a solo act.

Debutant Pratika Rawal had luck in her favor but scored 40 runs off 69 balls to form an opening partnership of 110 runs. Then Harleen Deol (44 off 50 balls) kicked on after another slow start. Then with Harmanpreet (34 off 23 balls), Richa Ghosh (26 off 12 runs) and Jemimah Rodrigues (31 off 19 balls), India scored 314 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 50 overs.

In reply, West Indies got off to a nightmare start and from the very first ball, there seemed to be only one winner. Kiana Joseph could develop into a fearsome power-hitter at the top of the order but his less-than-ideal technique when running through the middle of the wicket makes him a prime run-out candidate. And she was dismissed for 0 runs off 0 balls in a rare appearance, dismissed in the first ball of the chase. India’s opening pace pair of Renuka Singh Thakur and Titas Sadhu then tried to carefully demolish the rest of the batting order, with WI reduced to 34/6 in the 13th over.

They were eventually put on 103 runs, with Renuka leading the way with his first five wickets in the format. The fast bowler, who was named player of the match, later helped his conversation with Jhulan Goswami, where the retired legend told him to practice bowling a lot of single stumps in the nets to do well in ODIs.

Another highlight of India’s defense was Harmanpreet’s stunning catch at long-on, when she leapt into the air to take a leaping one-handed screamer at full-time to dismiss Alia Allen. No stranger to taking a good catch, Harmanpreet was especially happy as a knee problem had been bothering her for a few months and she later thanked the training staff for getting her back in shape.

Mandhana gets support

WI started with a clear plan against Mandhana as most teams do these days: stick to the outside off stump line, pack that side of the field, and see if he finds the fielder. She still managed to hit the initial two fours. In the fourth over, skipper Mathews bowled, a loopy delivery on the driving range. As Mandhana came out to drive, wicketkeeper Shemaine Campbell was heard shouting into the stump mic, “Stop that, stop that!” to the fielder at extra cover … and then “Ow!” When the ball completely splits the small gap between the two fielders and went for four. This was the earliest memory of Mandhana’s form.

His good early tempo was not quite matched by the newcomer at the other end. Rawal’s debut could have ended at 1 in the 6th over, but WI did not review the catch after an appeal. It was a struggle for Rawal to start her international career, starving for strikes at first but also struggling to rotate when she did get on strike. At 3 runs at the end of 10 overs, Effie Fletcher brought down a sitter and was offered a reprieve. But his flow improved after fielding restrictions were eased. A short-arm jab at midwicket, and a pair of well-timed sweeps helped him to 40 runs.

At the 30 over mark, India were 154/1 and could take the remainder of the match as a T20 innings. Mandhana’s soft dismissal of 91 runs could have set India back on the next day. Despite starting his innings with questionable intentions once again, Deol shifted gears well while Harmanpreet – normally a slow starter – got out on a flyer and the pair put on 66 off just 52 balls. Sixes each in the 39th and 40th overs were the shots of the day. As they fell in quick succession, Ghosh and Rodrigues were not slow to consolidate but kept their foot on the gas. The lower order remains a concern, but the nitpick will be a day when India cross 300 with ease.

Short numbers: India 314/9 in 50 overs (Mandhana 91, Deol 44, James 5/45) defeated West Indies by 103 runs in 26.2 overs (Fletcher 24*, Campbell 21, Renuka 5/29).

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