Deepti Sharma Stars in India’s 5-Wicket Win to Complete 3-0 ODI Sweep Over West Indies
India completed a 3-0 series sweep against the West Indies with a dominant five-wicket win in the final Women’s ODI in Vadodara on Friday. Deepti Sharma’s career-best figures of 6/31 and Renuka Singh’s excellent new-ball spell (4/29) helped bowl out the West Indies for just 162 runs. India then chased down the target of 163 in 28.2 overs, despite a top-order wobble.
After being reduced to 73/4, India was in a tricky position, but Deepti, with a calm and composed knock of 39 not out off 48 balls, guided her team to victory. Richa Ghosh, the swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batter, added 23 runs off 11 balls to see India home.
The West Indies’ innings began poorly, with opener Renuka Singh dismissing both openers for ducks, including Qian, off the first ball. She also sent Deandra Dottin back to the pavilion cheaply for just five runs. However, a 97-run partnership between Chinelle Henry (61) and Shemaine Campbelle (46) revived their innings, pushing the total past 160. This stand was crucial as, without it, the West Indies might have been bowled out for under 100. Apart from Henry and Campbelle, only Aaliyah Alleyne (21) reached double figures, with West Indies’ batting woes continuing.
Deepti’s brilliance with the ball, supported by Thakur’s fiery spell, was too much for the visitors to handle. Thakur’s accurate line and length removed the top order, while Deepti used her guile and flight to outfox the West Indies’ batters, recording her third ODI five-wicket haul and second six-wicket performance.
India’s chase saw some early jitters. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, following the dismissals of Smriti Mandhana (4) and Harleen Deol (1), steadied the ship with a quickfire 32 off 22 balls, which included seven boundaries. However, she was bowled by Afy Fletcher, leaving India at 23/2. Mandhana’s early departure came courtesy of a bizarre one-handed catch from Ashmini Munisar off Aaliyah Alleyne’s bowling. Deol followed soon after, caught behind off Dottin’s delivery.
Despite these early setbacks, India cruised towards the target with Deepti and Jemimah Rodrigues (29 off 45 balls) holding the innings together. Ghosh’s quickfire cameo sealed the victory and helped India complete the series sweep with a well-rounded team effort.
