Senior off-spinner Deepti Sharma delivered a career-best performance of 6/31 and contributed with the bat as India clinched a five-wicket win over the West Indies, completing a 3-0 whitewash in the final Women’s ODI on Friday.
Deepti’s heroics, combined with pacer Renuka Singh’s impressive 4/29, bowled out West Indies for a modest 162. Despite a shaky start to their chase, India reached the target of 163 in just 28.2 overs.
At 73/4, India found themselves in a precarious position, but Deepti’s unbeaten 39 off 48 balls showcased her composure and experience, steering the team to victory with ample overs to spare.
Wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh added the finishing touches with a quick-fire 23 off 11 balls, remaining unbeaten as the winning runs were scored.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur looked in fine touch during her 22-ball 32, hitting seven boundaries before being bowled by Afy Fletcher. Kaur had earlier steadied the innings after last match’s centurion Harleen Deol fell cheaply at 23/2.
In-form opener Smriti Mandhana departed for just 4 after a bizarre one-handed catch by Ashmini Munisar off Aaliyah Alleyne’s bowling. Mandhana, unable to judge the length, paid the price for an uncharacteristic misstep.
Deol followed soon, edging a wide delivery from Deandra Dottin to wicketkeeper Shemaine Campbelle. Middle-order batter Jemimah Rodrigues contributed a steady 29 off 45 balls before India wrapped up the game.
Earlier, Renuka Thakur wreaked havoc with a fiery opening spell, while Deepti spun a web to claim her third ODI five-wicket haul and second six-wicket performance. The duo shared all 10 West Indies wickets between them.
Thakur dismantled the top order with her precision, removing both openers, including Qian on the very first ball, and Hayley Matthews, the centurion from the previous match, for ducks. She also claimed the prized wicket of Deandra Dottin (5).
After Thakur’s early breakthroughs, Deepti took control, dismantling the middle and lower order with her flight and guile. West Indies were bowled out in the 39th over, dashing their hopes for a consolation win.
The visitors were buoyed by a fighting 97-run stand between Chinelle Henry (61) and Shemaine Campbelle (46), which helped them avoid a total collapse. Their aggressive approach against the spinners allowed West Indies to cross 160, a total that looked unlikely after the initial collapse.
Apart from Henry and Campbell, Aaliyah Alleyne (21) was the only other batter to reach double digits as West Indies’ batting struggles persisted.
Opting to bat first, West Indies got off to a dreadful start as Thakur removed both openers and Matthews for zero, leaving the visitors reeling. From there, it was all Deepti, who kept the pressure on, ensuring India wrapped up the series with a dominant finish.