India Women kicked off their preparations for the 2024 T20 World Cup with a victory, as they beat the West Indies by 20 runs in a warm-up match at Dubai’s ICC Academy on Tuesday. On the back of Jemimah Rodrigues’ timely 52 and Pooja Vastrakar’s three-wicket haul, India proved they were in competition mode ahead of the upcoming tournament with an all-round performance.
A Shaky Start but a Solid Middle Order
Posted on 3:54 PM GMT | Updated March 201, 03 Shefali Verma and Smriti Mandhana failed to provide a good start after India were put into bat by West Indies. Verma chipped in only 7 runs, and Mandhana added 14 as both were dismissed early on their innings. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur too did not last long, getting cleaned up by West Indies captain Hayley Matthews for a run.
The top-order wickets put India in trouble but it was Jemimah Rodrigues and Yastika Bhatia’s 91-run partnership that anchored the innings. The pair combined for an important 50-run partnership, with Rodrigues visibly attacking her way to a half-century. She also had a more aggressive partner in Rodrigues, who scored some aming sixes and well placed boundaries, but that meant Bhatia could hold the other side up with her little nudges.
Despite the partnership, India struggled to build momentum, with Richa Ghosh and Jemimah both falling to run-outs, a frustrating scenario that halted India’s march to a bigger total. But a late flurry of runs from Pooja Vastrakar and Deepti Sharma helped India reach a defendable 141 runs at the end of their 20 overs.
Pooja Vastrakar’s Early Strikes Dent West Indies’ Chase
Chasing 142, West Indies found themselves in trouble early in their innings, thanks to Pooja Vastrakar’s superb bowling. In just the second over, Vastrakar dismissed Qiana Joseph, who attempted a big shot but only managed to miscue it to mid-on where Harmanpreet took a comfortable catch.
The real blow for West Indies came when Renuka Singh Thakur sent their skipper, Hayley Matthews, packing for a duck. Matthews, who had earlier excelled with the ball by picking up four wickets, couldn’t replicate her form with the bat. This early double blow left West Indies reeling at 6-2.
Vastrakar continued her fiery spell, getting rid of Chedean Nation, leaving West Indies in tatters. With three wickets down and the required run rate climbing, the chase seemed a daunting task for the West Indies batters.
West Indies Fight Back, but India’s Bowlers Seal the Victory
However, the early blows were countered with a 56-run stand between Chinelle Henry and Shemaine Campbelle, keeping West Indies in the hunt. Henry played a maiden knock while Campbelle tried to rebuild after the onslaught. And the duo played with wisdom as they gathered singles and put away loose deliveries to get West Indies back into the match.
But India, with a stronger bowling lineup, proved too strong for the Caribbean side. Asha Shobhana ended the stand by dismissing Henry and Deepti Sharma removed two set batters from the crease in one over to put India well on course. At 76 for 1 at the halfway mark, West Indies struggled regarding run rate and with Wipro getting wickets frequently, they simply ran out of steam.
In the end, West Indies could only manage 121 for 8 in their 20 overs, falling 20 runs short of the target.
Jemimah Rodrigues: The Backbone of India’s Innings
The highlight with the bat was Jemimah Rodrigues’ 52 off 47 balls. Her innings proved to be match-winning without a doubt as it sprung India’s own tug-of-war with defeat triggered by the fall of their openers within the first five overs. Rodrigues’ talent to run effortlessly between the wickets and get the ball she was eyeing delivered to the boundary kept India motoring along at key points of their innings.
Though she was run-out in an unfortunate fashion, her contribution laid the foundation for India’s competitive score.
Pooja Vastrakar: A True All-Rounder
Pooja Vastrakar’s all-round performance was the highlight of India’s bowling attack. Not only did she provide crucial late runs with the bat, but she also made early inroads into the West Indies batting order with her impressive bowling. Her figures of 3 wickets for 20 runs in four overs showcased her ability to deliver under pressure.
Vastrakar’s early strikes set the tone for India’s defense, and her relentless accuracy kept West Indies on the backfoot throughout the chase.
FAQs
Jemimah Rodrigues scored 52 runs, and Pooja Vastrakar took 3 wickets, helping India secure a 20-run victory over West Indies.
India’s top-order struggled, with Shefali Verma and Smriti Mandhana scoring 7 and 14 respectively, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur was dismissed for just 1 run.
West Indies lost early wickets, but Chinelle Henry and Shemaine Campbelle’s 56-run partnership provided some hope. However, India’s disciplined bowling restricted them to 121 for 8.
Jemimah Rodrigues played a crucial knock of 52 runs, steadying the Indian innings after early dismissals and laying the foundation for a competitive total.
Pooja Vastrakar was instrumental with both bat and ball, taking 3 important wickets and contributing valuable runs in the lower order.
Conclusion: A Perfect Warm-Up for India
Despite that they managed to beat West Indies by 20 runs in a warm-up game but it shows the depth and preparedness of this Indian side little over few weeks left for T20 World Cup. The top-order did not quite come off, but the middle-order and the bowlers, with Jemimah Rodrigues anchoring arrangements for both, especially Pooja Vastrakar during her eight overs have stepped up when it counted.
With a blend of experience and young talent, India looks like a formidable force heading into the World Cup. If they can build on this performance and iron out the small issues, they’ll be a strong contender for the title.
