India clean up West Indies to win the T20 series 5-0

India's dominance over West Indies on the Caribbean soil continued as the Women in Blue white washed the hosts 5-0 in the T20 series. After winning the ODI series 2-1 and leading the T20 series 2-0, Harmanpreet Kaur and co. stamped their authority by clinching the T20 series clinically.

The third T20 was a lopsided affair as India chased down a paltry target of 60, winning the match by seven wiockets. Riding on Jemimah Rodrigues' unbeaten innings of 40, India took an unassailable lead of 3-0. 

The fourth T20 was like a trailer of a three hour movie as the game was reduced to nine overs a side due to rains. India set a target of 51 for West Indies. Hayleyt Mattews was the pick of the bowlers as she struck with 3-13 in her two overs. For India, it was Anuja Patil who tuned around the match for her with scalping 2-8 in her two overs. In the end, it was a nail biting finish as India managed to snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat winning the match by just five runs.

The fifth and final T20 was no different as India with its strong artillery of quality batters and bowlers continued to dominate West Indies. Twin half centuries from Jemimah Rodrigues (50) and Veda Krishnamurthy (57 not out) helped India post a respectable total of 134-3 in 20 overs on board. In reply, West Indies dwindled down to 73-7 losing the dead rubber by 61 runs. It was Anuja Patil again who wrecked havoc as she picked up 2-3 in her three overs. 

A strong batting performance coupled with an equally powerful bowling display, India clinically clinched the T20 series 5-0. 

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Shafali Verma breaks Sachin's record to become the yougest Indian to score an international 50; takes India 2-0 up against WI in T20 series

The new kid on the Indian women's cricket block has been making headlines for her wonderful batting display in the T20 series against West Indies. 15 year old Shafali Verma shattered Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar's 30-year old record to become the youngest Indian to score an international 50 on Saturday in the first T20 that was played between India and West Indies at St. Lucia.

Riding on the child prodigy's aggressive 73 (49) that included six fluent boundaries and four ferocious maximums, India posted a mammoth 185-4 in 20 overs. Having played just six international T20s, Shafali's batting is pleasing to the eyes. With a perfect blend of milking ones-twos and ability to use the long handle, Verma is bound to go a long way. India won the first T20 comprehensively by 84 runs on Saturday.   

On Sunday, the two sides met for the second T20. Continuing from where she had left on Saturday, Shafali piled up another brilliantly constructed half century, steering India to a 10-wicket victory. Chasing a paltry 104, India openers Shafali Verma (69 not out) and Smriti Mandhana (30 not out), made mockery of the run chase as they finished off the game in just 10.3 overs. Early in the day, Deepti Sharma, who opened the bowling wrecked havoc with her gentle off spins to pick up 4-10 in her four overs. 

The hosts looked listless in the first two T20s and will look for redemption on Thursday to keep the series alive.

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Smriti Mandhana makes her comeback in style; guides India to win the ODI series 2-1 against West Indies

With the ODI series being levelled 1-1, all was at stake for the two teams who locked horns against each other on Wednesday at Antigua. Winning the toss and electing to bat first, West Indies was bowled out for 194 in 50 overs, courtesy an all-round bowling effort from the Women in Blue. India's ace spearhead Jhulan Goswami and leggie Poonam Yadav struck with two wickets apiece. West Indies skipper Stafanie Taylor who had a wonderful series so far with the bat, smashed a delightful 79 to help her team put up a fighting score on board. 

Chasing 195, the famous Indian opening pair of Jemimah Rodrigues (69) and Smriti Mandhana (74) stitched a solid partnership of 141 runs in 25.1 overs taking the game away from the opposition. Mandhana announced her comeback in style as she stuck a mellifluous half century, including six smooth hits to the fence and three ferocious ones over it. Punam Raut (24) and Mithali Raj (20) played their parts to see the team home. The visitors convincingly chased down the target in just 42.1 overs with six wickets to spare. Hayley Matthews was the standout performer with the ball picking up 3-27 in 8.1 overs. 

With 0-1 down, the Women in Blue came back strong in the remaining two ODIs to clinch the series 2-1. The two sides will now play a five match T20 series starting Saturday.

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An all round performance helps India level the series 1-1 against West Indies

After going 1-0 down against West Indies on Friday at Antigua, Mithali Raj and co. came out all guns blazing in the second ODI that was played on Sunday at the same venue. Winning the toss and electing to bat first, the Women in Blue put up 191-6 in 50 overs, riding on Punam Raut's delightful knock of 77 (128) coupled with Mithali Raj's 40 (67) and Harmanpreet Kaur's 46 (52). The fall of opening pair cheaply meant that the middle order had to consolidate and shoulder the responsibility. The powerful Indian middle order absorbed the pressure and came out with flying colours. With the ball, Aaliyah Alleyne and Afy Fletcher struck with two wickets apiece. 

After winning the first ODI by a solitary run, the hosts would have fancied their chances to take an unassailable lead in the series. However, the Indian spinning trio of Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Deepti Sharma and Poonam Yadav thrashed the Caribbean hopes as they bowled tight lines and lengths scalping two wickets each. Wicket-keeper Shemaine Campbelle top scored with a sluggish 39 (90). West Indies was bundled out for 138 in 47.1 overs, losing the match by 53 runs.

India level the three match ODI series 1-1, with the decider to be played on Wednesday at the same venue.

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West Indies clinch a 1-run thriller win over India in the first ODI

The three match ODI series between India and West Indies started off with a nail biting finish as the hosts West Indies managed to pocket a 1-run win over the Women in Blue at Antigua on Friday. Winning the toss and electing to bat first, West Indies managed to put up a sub-par 225-7 in 50 overs. The Indian bowlers bowled well to restrict the hard hitting Caribbeans to a humble score. Skipper Stafanie Taylor kept the Indian bowlers at bay with her aggressive strokeplay as she hit a mellifluous 94 (91) smashing eight boundaries and two sixes. Opener Natasha McLean (51) and middle order bat Chedean Nation (43) too made significant contributions with the bat. With the ball, Shikha Pandey and Deepti Sharma were the pick of the bowlers as they scalped two wickets apiece.

Chasing 226 was arguably going to be a cake walk for the formidable Indian batting line-up. The opening pair of Priya Punia (75) and Jemimah Rodrigues (41) stitched a solid partnership of 78 runs giving the perfect start to the chase. However the Indian middle order that boasts of Mithali Raj, Punam Raut, Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepi Sharma managed to put up just 66 runs among themselves. Anisa Mohammed wrecked havoc with the ball as she picked up a fifer giving away 46 runs in 10 overs. The first ODI went all the way down the wire as the hosts fell short of a solitary run.

It was a cracker of a contest at Antigua and the series has definitely got off to a thrilling start. The two sides will meet on Sunday at the same venue for the second ODI. West Indies lead the three match ODI series 1-0.


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