India registered their first T20I series win at home since October 2019 with a thumping 60-run triumph in the third T20I game against West Indies on Thursday, December 19. Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh registered record-breaking fifties to help India post their biggest-ever T20I total of 217 and then spinners shone to restrict the travelling side to 157 for 9.
In a record-laden T20I run-fest at Dr Dy Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai, both teams entertained the fans with 14 sixes. India's stand-in captain Mandhana top-scored with 77 runs off 47 balls to become the first women cricketer to record 30 fifty-plus scores in T20I cricket history while Richa Ghosh smashed an 18-ball fifty, the joint-fastest in the shortest form of the game.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur missed out again due to a leg niggle as the Indian side remained unchanged for the series' third game. West Indies' decision to bowl first backfired as India quickly took control of the game despite losing Uma Chetry early in the powerplay.
Mandhana continued her red-hot form with her third consecutive T20I fifty to give India a flying start. Jemimah Rodrigues also contributed by scoring 39 runs off 28 balls. The duo added 98 runs for the second wicket to put India on track for a big total. Mandhana looked all set for her maiden T20I century but was dismissed by Deandra Dottin in the 15th over while attempting a big shot.
Richa Ghosh and the rising youngster Raghvi Bist then dominated the last five over with brilliant big-hitting display. Richa smashed 54 runs off just 21 balls with the help of 3 fours and 5 huge sixes and Bist added an unbeaten 31 runs to help India post a huge total of 217 for 4.
West Indies were off to a quiet start as Sajeevan Sajana dismissed in-form opener Qiana Joseph in the fourth over. Star batters Hayey Matthews and Deandra Dottin kept the game alive by adding 37 runs for the second wicket but Indian bowlers were quick to fight back.
The experienced spinner Radha Yadav gave India a breakthrough with Matthews' wicket in the eighth over and then the Caribbean side witnessed a collapse. Indian spinners picked up wickets on a timely basis as West Indies batters struggled to make a comeback due to the pressure of the enormous required run rate.
Chinelle Henry top-scored with 43 runs off 16 balls for the visiting side while Radha Yadav picked four wickets for 29 for the hosts. Richa Ghosh claimed the Player of the Match for her fiery fifty and Smriti Mandhana was awarded with the Player of the Series.
India Women Playing XI: Smriti Mandhana (c), Uma Chetry, Jemimah Rodrigues, Raghvi Bist, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Sajeevan Sajana, Radha Yadav, Saima Thakor, Titas Sadhu, Renuka Thakur Singh.
West Indies Women Playing XI: Hayley Matthews (c), Qiana Joseph, Shemaine Campbelle (wk), Deandra Dottin, Chinelle Henry, Nerissa Crafton, Aaliyah Alleyne, Shabika Gajnabi, Zaida James, Afy Fletcher, Karishma Ramharack.
