Mandhana, Kaur star with the bat as India crush West Indies 

Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur (Source Twitter)

Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur shone with the bat, helping India beat West Indies by 56 runs in the third T20I of the ongoing Women's T20I Tri-Series in South Africa.

Mandhana-Kaur stand powers India to 167

After electing to bat first, India started their innings slowly as both the openers struggled to middle their shots and could only manage 37 in the first six overs. 

Yastika had a struggling stay and departed in the last over of the powerplay while trying to up the run rate. Harleen Deol, at three, looked decent but was limited to a short stay.

India found themselves in the middle of a menace as they were sixty for two at the end of ten overs. However, Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who returned to the eleven after missing the last game, started to rebuild the momentum. 

Mandhana also started to play her shots after settling down, and it was no looking back for the pair. They went on to have an unbeaten 115-run partnership for the third wicket.

West Indies started well and controlled the game in the first half of the innings. However, they conceded 107 in the next ten overs and allowed India to post an above-par total. 

India posted 167 in the first innings, with Mandhana (74* off 51) and Kaur (56* off 35) playing till the end.

Disciplined bowling leads India to victory

Team India (Source Twitter)

Chasing 168, West Indies had an abysmal start as they were 25 for two at the end of the powerplay. 

Skipper Hayley Matthews did not open the innings, and Indian spinners got the most out of it, keeping the other batters quiet in the major part of the first ten overs.

Matthews, batting at five, joined Shemaine Campbelle and started to stitch a partnership. 

The duo added 71 runs for the fourth wicket and scored at a far better rate in the second half of the innings. 

West Indies scored 72 in the last ten overs, but the slow start left them with too much to do at the end.

India won their second straight game of the series. Deepti Sharma was once again the pick of the bowlers as she took two wickets, conceding 29 runs. Radha Yadav and Rajeshwari Gayakwad also scalped one wicket each.

Brief Scores

India Women: 167/2 (20 Overs)
Smriti Mandhana 74* (51), Harmanpreet Kaur 56* (35);
Karishma Ramharack 1/12, Shanika Bruce 1/25;

West Indies Women: 111/4 (20 Overs)
Shemaine Campbelle 47 (57), Hayley Matthews 34* (29);
Deepti Sharma 2/29, Radha Yadav 1/10

India Women won by 56 runs. 

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