Indian women cricket players celebrate a wicket during the first ODI against West Indies in Vadodara on December 22, 2024.
| Photo Credit: Vijay Soneji

There’s no stopping Smriti Mandhana. Despite a quick turnaround time after a hectic T20I series, she swiftly changed formats and continued her fine form with a classy 91 (102b, 13×4) as India piled up 314 for nine — its second-highest total in ODIs — before Renuka Singh Thakur’s maiden fifer (5 for 29) powered India to a 211-run win against the West Indies in the series opener.

As the Kotambi Stadium hosted its maiden international fixture on Sunday, Smriti, coming on the back of three consecutive T20I fifties, set the platform and forged a 110-run opening stand with debutant Pratika Rawal on a sluggish black soil surface.

Sent in to bat, it was a slow start for Smriti and Pratika. While it took Pratika 33 deliveries to hit her first boundary, Smriti was at her fluent best as she kept the scoreboard ticking and ensured there was no slip-up.

With Smriti taking the pressure off with a few boundaries, Pratika could slowly build her innings and stitch a steady partnership. Smriti hammered a delivery from Afy Fletcher past mid-wicket to bring up her 28th ODI fifty — fifth consecutive across formats — and looked in fine touch.

West Indies captain Hayley Matthews ended Pratika’s stay with a sharp return catch, but India did not stutter as Smriti built another 50-run stand with Harleen Deol before being trapped leg before by Zaida James (5 for 45) — nine short of a century.

Though Zaida impressed, listless bowling from the other end and sloppy fielding let West Indies down, and making most of the opportunity, India could build regular partnerships en route to the 300-run mark.

The West Indies team was unhappy with Harleen’s dismissal being overturned early on by the DRS, it somehow fought back to prevent the home team from going past 325.

Negating the dew factor, Renuka’s fiery opening spell and some tight bowling by Titas Sadhu meant West Indies was never in the chase. While Qiana Joseph was run out on the first ball, Renuka added to Windies’ woes with a few unplayable in-swingers. As the top-order crumbled, the visiting team was reeling at 34 for 6, before being bundled out for 103.

The scores: India 314/9 in 50 overs (Smriti 91, Harleen 44, Pratika 40; Zaida 5/45) bt West Indies 103 in 26.2 overs (Renuka 5/29); Toss: West Indies. PoM: Renuka.

India Women’s Jemimah Rodrigues celebrates half-century during the first T20 International cricket match of a series between India Women and West Indies Women, at D Y Patil Sports Stadium, in Mumbai.
| Photo Credit: PTI

India Women extended their unbeaten run against the West Indies to nine consecutive T20I victories with a dominating 49-run win in the series opener here on Sunday.

After Jemimah Rodrigues (73) and Smriti Mandhana (54) powered India to their highest-ever total of 195 for four against the Caribbean side and their third highest overall in the format, the West Indies responded with 146 for seven.

At the top, young Qiana Joseph dazzled with a 33-ball 49, while veteran Deandra Dottin (52) recorded her first fifty since making a comeback to T20Is earlier this year, but their efforts were not enough.

West Indies’ hopes were dealt a body blow in the second over when substitute fielder Minnu Mani produced a superb athletic catch to see the back of West Indies’ skipper Hayley Matthews (1) off Titas Sadhu (3/37).

Joseph cracked five fours and three sixes to keep the scoreboard ticking but West Indies could not produce big partnerships in the middle.

Joseph and Shemaine Campbelle (13) put on a laborious 34-run stand for the second wicket off 31 balls, while the former’s association with Dottin did not last beyond 18-ball 44 for the third wicket.

Joseph took a liking for Saima Thakor, hitting the Indian bowler for four boundaries in the eighth over but the asking rate only kept increasing. After Joseph missed her fifty by one run — dismissed by Sadhu — Dottin took charge of getting the big runs.

Dottin hit four fours and three sixes in her 28-ball 52 but even as she got a couple of lifelines with Indian fielders spilling regulation catches, the target was beyond the visitors.

Dottin too became a victim of Sadhu, who capitalized on the pressure created by the spin duo of Deepti Sharma (2/21) and Radha Yadav (2/21).

Earlier, Rodrigues clobbered nine fours and two sixes to make a superb 73 off 35 balls, producing one of her finest knocks in the shortest format at No 3.

Coming off a fine 105 in her last outing — the final ODI of the Australia tour — Mandhana continued with her rich streak of form to notch up her 28th fifty in the format and sixth of the year.

Mandhana’s 54 also took her runs tally past 600 runs in the year while she moved to the fourth spot in the list of highest run-scorers in women’s T20Is in 2024.

Mandhana’s knock included seven fours and two sixes as she, along with the others in her camp, enjoyed returning to favourable and familiar conditions at home as India bettered their highest-ever total against West Indies. Their previous best was 185/4 in November 2019 at Gros Islet.

It was Rodrigues who appeared to have made the most of it, targeting her favourite scoring area on the leg side to pierce gaps with ease and even send the ball flying over the ropes at deep square leg on one occasion to bring up her 12th fifty.

Mandhana and Rodrigues put on 81 for the second wicket off 44 balls before the former was dismissed by Karishma Ramharack, who was the pick among the Caribbean bowlers returning figures of 4-0-18-2.

Richa Ghosh made a quick 14-ball 20 with two fours and a six, and her knock ended with the veteran Deandra Dottin taking a superb catch at deep mid-wicket off Mandy Mangru in the 17th over.

India’s opening pair of Uma Chetry (24) and Mandhana gave their side the early impetus, putting on 50 runs on board inside seven overs.