Wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh scored a match-winning 44 not out, off 32 balls, and added a valuable 72-run partnership for the fourth wicket with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (33 off 42) to take India home with 11 balls to spare.
As it happened: India vs West Indies
Richa hit the winning runs, a four off Shamilia Connell in the penultimate over, as India chased down the below-par 119-run target in 18.1 overs with six wickets in hand.
Earlier, Deepti Sharma (3/15) led India bowlers restricted the West Indies for just 118 for 6 in their 20 overs. In the process, the ‘Player of the Match’ Deepti also became the first Indian to take 100 T20I wickets.
Deepti spun a web around the West Indies batters after being asked to bowl. The seasoned off-spinner picked three West Indies wickets for India.
Needing less than run a ball, India were off to an electric start with openers Shafali Verma (28) and Smriti Mandhana (10) taking the team total to 31 in four overs on the back of six fours.
#TeamIndia register their second consecutive victory in the #T20WorldCup! For her economical three-wicket haul,… https://t.co/2f2WnkT6Mm
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) 1676478793000
But India lost the momentum as slow bowling did the trick for West Indies.
Mandhana missed off-spinner Karishma Ramharack’s (2/14) ball completely, resulting in an easy stumping for wicketkeeper Rasha Williams. Last game match-winner Jemimah Rodrigues (1) became Hayley Matthews (1/12) first and only victim of the day as the skipper took a stellar catch of her own bowling.
After two low-scoring overs, Shafali tried to up the ante only to be caught at long leg and West Indies picked three wickets in quick succession.
Harmanpreet took her time to settle down before hitting back-to-back fours off Afy Fletcher (0/24) in the ninth over.
Richa did what she does best — finish the game. The youngster hit five fours, including one to finish off the match in her unbeaten 32-ball innings. She took India to 119 for 4 in 18.1 overs.
Earlier, Pooja Vastrakar (1/21), opening with the new ball, gave India the early breakthrough, getting rid of the dangerous Hayley Matthew (2), striking on her very first ball.
The West Indies skipper was done in by the extra bounce as Richa Ghosh completed a regulation catch.
Pooja continued to put pressure on the West Indies, bowling a wicket maiden.
Shemaine Campbelle (30) hit West Indies’ first boundary in the third over, slapping a Renuka Singh (1/22) delivery past square leg.
The introduction of spin led to West Indies collecting 12 runs, including two fours from Rajeshwari Gayakwad’s over.
West Indies were 53 for 1 at the halfway mark. Campbelle and Stefanie Taylor (42) steadied the West Indies innings as they slowly but steadily stitched a 73-run partnership. The two shared nine boundaries between them.
However, twin strikes from the ever-reliable Deepti led to a mini batting collapse. The off-spinner first punished Campbelle for going for a reverse sweep with Smriti Mandhana completing a lovely catch at short third.
Three balls later, she trapped Taylor leg before which was initially deemed not out by the umpire but India successfully reviewed the decision and got it changed.
Chinelle Henry (2) was the next to go as Mandhana and Richa affected her run out.
India were able to stem the flow of runs but their fielding was found wanting. Deepti dropped Chedean Nation on 3 in the 16th over.
Nation and Shabika Gajnabi (15) took West Indies past the 100-run mark.
Deepti reached the 100-wicket milestone in the last over when she bamboozled Aly Fletcher (0).
(With inputs from PTI)
