Jemimah Rodrigues (Source: @BCCIWomen/X.com)
Hosts India conquered West Indies in the first T20I of the three-match series by 49 runs in Mumbai courtesy of two outstanding knocks from Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues. Bowlers provided much-needed support as opposition all-rounder Deandra Dottin could not finish the job for her side.
Here's the timeline of how IND-W vs WI-W panned out in Mumbai:
IND-W vs WI-W Highlights: Mandhana's Marvellous Show Takes India To A Flyer
Batting first, Indian openers Smriti Mandhana and Uma Chetry stitched an outstanding 50-run stand inside the seventh over before the latter fell for 24. However, experienced Mandhana continued her aggressive show and brought her 28th T20I fifty in the fourteenth over, after which she departed for 54 off 33 deliveries, which consisted of seven fours and two maximums.
The Caribbean bowlers were under a lot of threat as Mandhana, alongside Jemimah Rodrigues, were going at a reasonable rate, with runs flowing every over.
IND-W vs WI-W Highlights: India Finish At 195 After Jemimah's Powerful Effort
Continuing where Mandhana left off, Jemimah played with pure class and confidence as she took the opposition pacers to the cleaners with as many as nine boundaries and two sixes in her knock of 73, for which she consumed just 35 deliveries.
Wicket-keeper batter Richa Ghosh played her part too in this game as she arrived at the crease when Smriti left and immediately made an impact by playing a 14-ball 20-run cameo as India's score reached 195 with four wickets down as Harmanpreet Kaur remained unbeaten in the end.
IND-W vs WI-W Highlights: Qiana Joseph's Rebellious Knock Keeps West Indies In The Fight
Losing skipper Hayley Matthews early on in the innings, West Indies' opener Qiana Joseph put in the effort as she went for the daunting target of 196 by going after the pacers, especially in the powerplay.
As wickets kept tumbling at regular intervals, Joseph continued her show, banging three sixes and five fours, but, unfortunately, she still fell short of her fifty by one run with 49 written after her name when Titas Sadhu dismissed her.
By the time Joseph left, the visitors were 80 for three with 9.3 over completed and 116 still needed as there only hope Hayley Matthews was still at the crease.
IND-W vs WI-W Highlights: Deandra Dottin's Valuable Effort Couldn't Save West Indies As Indian Bowlers Pick Regular Wickets
With the game running fast away from their grips, West Indian powerhouse Deandra Dottin decided to take the matter into her own hands and played a much-required knock for her side. Facing 28 deliveries, Dottin wasted no time in scoring 52 as she slapped three gigantic sixes but was then finally dismissed after two drop catches, leaving her side wondering too much.
By the end of their full quota of 20 overs, the visitors could only manage 146 for seven wickets down, losing by a margin of 49 runs, courtesy of a decent bowling effort from Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav and Titas Sadhu, picking all seven wickets among themselves as India earned the series lead.