ICC Women's World Cup 2017: 5 things India did right to beat West Indies

The Indian women’s cricket team scripted yet another regulation win in the World Cup as they overpowered the T20 champions West Indies by seven wickets. This is their second win in a row, which momentarily puts them on the top of the points table.

Mithali Raj’s decision to bowl first turned out to be a shrewd one as Indian bowlers imposed themselves on the team from Caribbean. From 69 for the loss of a wicket, WI were brought down to 91 for six. However, partnerships of 30, 25 and 37 runs for the seventh, eighth and ninth wickets respectively helped them post a near-decent total of 183 on the board.

Though India lost last match’s half-centurion Punam Raut in the first over, Smriti Mandhana and Mithali Raj made sure the Women in Blue cross the line without hiccups. Here we list down five things which helped India scale yet another win in the tourney.

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#1 Decision to introduce spin in the powerplay

While it seemed the skipper was taking a huge risk with only two fielders outside the circle, it turned out to be a calculated move

With West Indies going strong at almost five runs per over, Mithali Raj introduced Ekta Bisht into the attack from the seventh over. While it seemed the skipper was taking a huge risk with only two fielders outside the circle, it turned out to be a calculated move.

On her very first delivery, the left arm orthodox bowler flighted the ball on Felicia Walters’s off stump. The opener failed to connect properly and wicketkeeper Sushma Verma pouched the catch easily.

#2 Deepti Sharma’s timely breakthroughs

The off-spinner ultimately ended with figures of 10-1-27-2

With the pair of Hayley Matthews and Stafanie Taylor going strong, Raj introduced Sharma in the 11^th over. The off-spinner tightened the screws from one end, forcing West Indies to lower their scoring rate.

Eventually, opener Matthews’s resilience gave up and Sharma sent her packing caught and bowled in the 19^th over. The off-spinner then broke another partnership, albeit a bit late in the innings.

In the 46^th over, Shanel Daley fell prey to Sharma’s bowling as she looked to up the ante a bit, having added 25 runs for the eighth wicket with Afy Fletcher. The off-spinner ultimately ended with figures of 10-1-27-2.

#3 Not letting Stafanie Taylor settle

Taylor managed 16 runs in 42 balls

West Indies’ captain Stafanie Taylor was by far their most potent option in the batting department. Playing her 100^th ODI, Taylor came in at number three, aiming to stitch a partnership with Matthews and help WI post a big total.

However, the Indian spin department never allowed her to get into the groove. Struggling throughout her innings, Taylor managed 16 runs in 42 balls before Smriti Mandhana’s direct throw from short third man caught her short of the crease at the bowler’s end.

#4 Poonam Yadav cleaning up the WI middle order

Yadav finished with figures of 10-2-19-2

Poonam Yadav, a leg spinner by trait was West Indies’ tormentor-in-chief in the first innings. Coming in to bowl in the 18^th over, Yadav made sure the WI middle order was not allowed an ounce of breathing space.

She bowled nine overs at a trot and picked a couple of important wickets of Deandra Dottin and Merissa Aguilleira. Both the players are one of the more experienced customers in the Caribbean line-up, having played 101 and 98 ODIs respectively.

The dual blow in the space of 11 runs didn’t allow the West Indian team to post a big score and the total of 183 was easily chased by the Indians. Yadav finished with figures of 10-2-19-2.

#5 Smriti Mandhana’s classic century

Mandhana made sure she completed her century and took India past the target

After giving India a solid start and helping them beat hosts England in the previous match, Mandhana went one step further and notched up a hundred to help India register their second win on the trot. Having lost Raut in the first over itself, the left-hander kept her calm and didn’t allow pressure get on to her.

After adding 33 runs for the second wicket with Deepti Sharma, Mandhana scripted a century partnership with skipper Mithali Raj for the fourth wicket. Though the skipper failed to notch her eighth half-century on the trot, Mandhana made sure she completed her century and took India past the target.