Richa Ghosh, Smriti Mandhana power India women's cricket team to series-clinching win over West Indies in third T20I

Fifties from Richa Ghosh and Smriti Mandhana powered India women’s cricket team to a 2-1 T20I series win over West Indies with a 60-run win in the third and final match in Navi Mumbai on Thursday. The win also means the Indian women have clinched a home T20I series for the first time since 2019.

Mandhana set multiple batting records with her third consecutive fifty, whereas Richa Ghosh equalled the record for the fastest fifty in women’s T20Is with her 18-ball half-century. New Zealand’s Sophie Devine and Australia’s Phoebe Litchfield are the other batters to have scored fifties in 18 deliveries. Ghosh scored 54 off just 21 deliveries on Thursday as India posted 217/4 after being asked to bat first.

In reply, West Indies crumbled against a mountainous target and crawled to 157/9 in their 20 overs, as left-arm spinner Radha Yadav returned with a four-wicket haul.

The West Indies could never really attain any momentum and lost Qiana Joseph (11) early, while mainstays Hayley Matthews (22) and Deandra Dottin (25) also fell cheaply which severely hampered the visitors’ hopes.

Chinelle Henry’s lone battle

Chinelle Henry waged a lone battle with a 16-ball 43, hitting four sixes and three fours, but her effort came when the fate of the game was all but sealed. India deployed six bowlers to defend 218 and Radha was the pick among them — 4-0-29-4.

Ghosh’s blitz came after Mandhana became the leading run-scorer in this format this year, reaching 763 runs in 23 T20Is, while smacking her third consecutive fifty of the series and eighth of the year.

She moved ahead of Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu in the run-scorer’s list. Having erred in the second game by not putting enough runs on the board, India rode on Mandhana’s charge to get their runs at nearly 10 an over.

Her pull shots were as compelling as her strokes on the off-side, at times effortlessly clearing the in-field to stamp her authority.

Mandhana’s fireworks overshadow Chetry’s two-ball duck

Mandhana’s fireworks overshadowed Uma Chetry’s two-ball duck in the first over and Rodrigues’ slow start in which she also survived a leg-before review against Matthews.

However, Rodrigues picked up pace after a slow start to make 28-ball 39 with four boundaries, building a robust platform for a big total as the two put on 98 runs off 55 balls.

At No 4, Raghvi Bisht (31 not out off 22 balls, 2×4, 1×6) made her first impression on international circuit when she danced down the track to clear Karishma Ramharack for a six and scored runs on both sides of the wicket.

Bisht played a perfect second fiddle to both Mandhana and Ghosh, adding 44 and 70 runs respectively while gaining crucial experience herself.

But Mandhana again missed a hundred, as she walked back to the hut after making 77 from 47 balls with 13 fours and a six. It was her highest score in this series, and she was dismissed in the 15th over by Dottin.

India then made the right move by sending in hard-hitter Ghosh ahead of Deepti Sharma, and the young wicketkeeper-batter dazzled.

Ghosh showcased her prowess with powerful hits with the ball landing nearly into the stands, particularly on the leg side, delighting a strong crowd over 45000.

The two teams will now move to Vadodara for a three-match ODI series to be played at the new Kotambi Stadium from 22 December.

With inputs from PTI