Preview: Fresh after a 35-run victory over strong title contenders England in their opening encounter of the ongoing Women’s Cricket World Cup, India have displayed a swagger and quick moves on the field that make them look ominous. The Indian eves are all prepared to take on the brilliant yet erratic West Indies on County Ground, Taunton, on Thursday. [caption id=“attachment_3757329” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] India’s Mithali Raj and West Indies’s Stafanie Taylor. Agencies[/caption] The West Indies are the injured tigresses on the prowl waiting for their first win after a humiliating eight-wicket drubbing by the Australian girls who are prone to middle-order collapse against big teams. In their first encounter against the Aussies, the West Indies lost their last seven wickets for less than 60 runs. In the head to head records, India have a 5-0 advantage over the West Indies in World Cup ODIs over a stretch of two decades —1993 to 2013. The West Indies have set a brilliant record in scoring runs and are consistently improving their rankings in ODIs, but are prone to sudden batting collapses. Having finished as runners-up position in the last World Cup where India were seventh, the West Indies have already set a barometer against India, as they are seeking their first World Cup victory. Leading the attack is Diandra Dottin, the hardest hitter of the leather ball in the women’s game. Skipper Stafanie Taylor — arguably the best all-rounder in the game — former skipper Merissa Aguilleira, who is swift behind the wickets and Hayley Matthews’ experience could create problems for the Indians. The Indian bowlers will have to refrain from bowling anything in the arch and short deliveries which are likely to be dispatched towards, or over the boundary ropes with disdain. The Carribbeans are mercurial and place their strength in chasing. However, statistical favourites India need to put on the pressure while fielding and win this to maintain their top four position in the round robin format of the first round. India skipper Mithali Raj is in the most destructive form of her career and has scored consecutive seven half-centuries. She has been unbeaten in six of those innings. Openers Smriti Mandhana and Poonam Raut are expected to give India an explosive start. The concern for India is running between wickets and wicket-keeping by an inconsistent Sushma Verma who missed two chances that oscillated the game towards England in the last match. Historically, Indian wins are dependent on caught-behinds and stumpings in which Anju Jain holds a record of 31 dismissals that includes 17 stumps and 14 catches. With a dominating 5-0 record against the West Indies across five World Cups, India remain at an advantageous position with 155 runs in the first face-off against the West Indies in 1993. In the year 1997, West Indies were unable to chase a target of 145 runs and managed just 83. In 2005, the West Indies set a handsome score of 135 that India chased successfully. In 2009, India took the winning track once again and easily chased the target of 85 runs. The year 2013 brought another opportunity where India scored 284 runs, marking its highest total in the history of the World Cup, with the West Indies folding up at 179 runs. Thirush Kamini and Punam Raut had produced a record breaking partnership of 175 runs. Top order batting and middle overs bowling along with conversion of half-chances into run-outs, are India’s strength and can easily rely on these two departments for their victory. With inputs from IANS
Highlights ICC Women's World Cup 2017, India vs West Indies, cricket result: Raj and Co win by seven wickets
Catch all the Live scores and updates of ICC Women’s World Cup clash between India and England to be played on Thursday.
 "Highlights ICC Women's World Cup 2017, India vs West Indies, cricket result: Raj and Co win by seven wickets")
In the other WWC game, captain Meg Lanning’s career-best 152 helped guide Australia to victory against Sri Lanka.
India next play Pakistan. So do join us on Sunday.
Same time. Same place.
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There was a small but noisy band of Indian supporters at the ground, and the Indian team went up to them to thank them after the game. It’s good to see gestures like this. Mona Meshram is out taking catches, which is good to see; catching was a concern for India again today.
Overall, one step closer to their first goal, the semi finals. While Mandhana will grab headlines, this victory belongs to the spinners.
India’s victory was built around a fine century from 20-year-old Smriti Mandhan.
Smriti Mandhana...what a knock. What a player. 💯 to follow the 90+ in the first game. Well done. 😊👍🙌🇮🇳🏏#WWC17
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) June 29, 2017
Smriti Mandhana wins the Player of the Match award for her 108-ball 106 run knock.
Mandhana: I was quite nervous when I was on 90 but my partner helped me through it. I didn’t want to play a rash shot. This knock is special because we were chasing and my first hundred we lost the match against Australia, and this comes in the World Cup.
This is India’s 2nd straight victory at Women’s World Cup 2017.
Congratulations @BCCIWomen on a fantastic victory.Smriti Mandhana has been outstanding.May our team continue to shine & give us joy.#WWC17
— Virrender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) June 29, 2017
Youngest players to score a century in Women’s World Cup:
17y 364d Charlotte Edwards
20y 317d Meg Lanning
20y 346d SMRITI MANDHANA*
Indian players to score a century in Women’s World Cup:
Thirush Kamini, 2013
Harmanpreet Kaur, 2013
Mithali Raj, 2013
SMRITI MANDHANA, 2017*
After 42 overs, India 180/3 (Mandhana 101, Meshram 17)
5 runs from Taylor’s over. India need 4 runs from 48 balls with 3 wickets remaining.
After 41 overs, India 175/3 (Mandhana 96, Meshram 17)
Matthews is into her 8th over. Mandhana takes Meshram goes on the back foot to pull the 3rd ball for a boundary.
India need 9 runs from 9 overs.
After 40 overs, India 170/3 (Mandhana 95, Meshram 13)
Four singles off Mohammad’s 6th over. India need 14 runs with 60 balls and 7 wickets remaining.
After 39 overs, India 166/3 (Mandhana 93, Meshram 11)
Dottin comes back into the attack and bowls it short and wide to Meshram, who cuts it commandingly past point. Then, a ball down leg side is converted into another boundary by Mandhana, who moves to 93.
Poor over. Goes for 12 runs.
After 38 overs, India 154/3 (Mandhana 88, Meshram 5)
Matthews continues to threaten and finds another edge but it goes past the sole slip fielder and India run a couple. India require 30 runs from 12 overs.
Smriti Mandhana seems to be cramping up. So drinks are on the field.
Meanwhile, in the other WWC game at Bristol, Australia are 192-2 (Lanning 107, Perry 16) chasing Sri Lanka’s target of 258
After 37 overs, India 151/3 (Mandhana 88, Meshram 2)
Taylor backs up Matthews’ over with another inexpensive one. India cross 150 and victory seems oh-so-near. They need 33 runs in 78 balls.
After 36 overs, India 149/3 (Mandhana 87, Meshram 1)
Matthews continues hoping for another breakthrough but can only bowl a tight over. Such a level-headed innings from Mandhana. She’s a great find for India and continues to prove it with each game.
After 35 overs, India 148/3 (Mandhana 86, Meshram 1)
West Indies don’t seem to learn and keep bowling short to Mandana. Fletcher’s short ball dismissed by the youngster with a pull to the long leg boundary. Three singles follow and Meshram gets off the mark. India need 36 runs from 90 balls.
After 34 overs, India 141/3 (Mandhana 80, Meshram 0)
Finally a successful over for the West Indies. A wicket and just a single off Hayley Matthews’ 5th over. Mona Meshram is the new batsman after Raj’s dismissal.
OUT! Mithali Raj perishes as she smashes a full toss straight to Afy Fletcher at mid-off. She is caught four short of her 8th consecutve ODI half century.
Mithali Raj cFletcher bMatthews 46 (88balls)
After 33 overs, India 140/2 (Mandhana 79, Mithali 46)
Skipper Taylor comes back into the attack. The running has been a feature of this partnership. They have not let the dots pile up.
India need runs in 17 overs with 8 wickets remaining.
Mithali Raj is within striking distance of an eight consecutive half century, can she get it and stretch the world record further?
And Mandhana has improved her away average (70), and is looking determined to take India home
After 32 overs, India 138/2 (Mandhana 78, Mithali 45)
Matthews bowls a better over after 2 expensive ones. A couple anf 2 singles off it.
After 31 overs, India 134/2 (Mandhana 77, Mithali 42)
Daley comes back into the attack. She bowls it short and Mandhana pulls for a boundary. Bowls short again 3 balls later and the 20-year-old pulls again for another four and it brings up their 100 partnership. Expensive over for West Indies.
After 30 overs, India 123/2 (Mandhana 67, Mithali 41)
Murphy’s law at play for the West Indies. Nothing going right. Mandhana drives loosely away from the body and it produces an edge which runs down to the third man boundary. Then, Mithali Raj plays a solid on-drive for another four.
After 29 overs, India 114/2 (Mandhana 62, Mithali 37)
Mohammad bowls a rank full toss and Raj hoicks it over midwicket for four. India are acing this chase. Quite effortless.
After 28 overs, India 108/2 (Mandhana 61, Mithali 32)
Matthews continues and more of the same. Easy singles on offer and India taking complete advantage of it.
After 27 overs, India 105/2 (Mandhana 60, Mithali 30)
Mohammad is back into the attack and more singles follow. Mandhana is beaten in flight in the fourth delivery and India collect another bye as it takes the outside edge. India need 79 runs with 23 overs remaining. They have 8 wickets in hand.
Players to score 600-plus runs against most different oppositions in Women’s ODIs:
5 – MITHALI RAJ*
4 – Charlotte Edwards, Claire Taylor
After 26 overs, India 101/2 (Mandhana 59, Mithali 28)
Raj is completely beaten by a beauty from Matthews but it evades even the West Indies keeper. They run two byes.
Unlike West Indies, India are not succumbing to the pressure built by the spinners in the middle overs.
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