Mandhana, Ghosh Power India to Victory in 3rd Match– Opponents Struggle to Keep Up
Smriti Mandhana showcased her batting prowess with a magnificent third half-century in the series, crafting an elegant innings of 77 runs off just 47 deliveries, while the explosive Richa Ghosh unleashed a breathtaking assault in the death overs, hammering 54 runs off mere 21 balls. Their stellar performances propelled India to a commanding 60-run victory over West Indies in the third T20I at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium, securing the series 2-1 in India’s favor.
After being asked to bat first on the same cricket pitch that hosted the previous two encounters, India’s batting unit fired on all cylinders to post an imposing total of 217, built on Smriti Mandhana solid foundation at the top and Ghosh’s pyrotechnics at the finish. Despite challenging conditions with significant dew affecting proceedings for a considerable portion of the match, the daunting target of 218 proved far too steep for the visiting West Indies team, who succumbed without mounting any substantial resistance.
India’s innings, however, began on a familiar disappointing note, mirroring their previous game’s start as young opener Uma Chetry’s stay at the crease was cut short, departing in the very first over.
But Mandhana, displaying remarkable intent and aggression from the outset, launched a calculated counterattack that set the tone for India’s dominance. Her fearless approach, combined with exquisite timing and placement, helped India capitalize on the powerplay restrictions, accumulating an impressive 61 runs in the first six overs.
The stylish Jemimah Rodrigues (39 off 28) found her rhythm early and complemented Smriti Mandhana perfectly as the duo constructed a game-changing partnership of 98 runs for the second wicket, coming off just 55 deliveries. The dew-laden surface increasingly favored the batters, and both Mandhana and Rodrigues took full advantage of some wayward bowling, with Mandhana being particularly severe on anything loose.The drinks break proved unfortunate for Rodrigues, who fell to the first delivery after the interval, but India’s momentum remained unaffected as the promising Raghvi Bist (31* off 22) joined forces with Smriti Mandhana.
The pair forged another crucial partnership of 44 runs, laying the perfect platform for a late-innings assault. Smriti Mandhana, who looked destined for a well-deserved century, fell against the run of play to a cleverly disguised slower delivery from Deandra Dottin. This dismissal stood as the sole highlight with the ball for the West Indian all-rounder, who otherwise endured an unusually expensive spell in an otherwise distinguished cricket career.
The stage was then set for Richa Ghosh’s spectacular exhibition of power-hitting. The young wicketkeeper-batter took center stage in the death overs, unleashing a barrage of boundaries that left the West Indies bowling attack shell-shocked. Displaying remarkable versatility, Ghosh treated both pace and spin with equal disdain, smoking five towering sixes and three crisp boundaries en route to a blistering fifty off just 18 deliveries, equaling the record for the fastest T20I half-century by an Indian woman. The mature Bist played her role perfectly, rotating the strike efficiently and ensuring Ghosh remained on strike during the crucial final overs, helping India surge past the psychological barrier of 200 runs.
For the West Indies to remain competitive in the contest, they needed to either replicate their batting heroics from the previous encounter or at least mount a serious challenge. However, they failed to accomplish either objective as their innings lacked momentum and intent from the very beginning, ultimately leading to a comprehensive defeat in this crucial series decider.
Qiana Joseph’s brief resistance, highlighted by a powerful six, was quickly extinguished as India’s tactical masterstroke of opening with Sajeevan Sajana’s part-time off-spin paid immediate dividends. The much-anticipated fireworks from the experienced duo of Hayley Matthews (22 off 17) and Deandra Dottin (25 off 17) failed to materialize, their partnership lacking the explosive cricket that has become their trademark in T20 cricket.
Despite their reputation as game-changers, both batters struggled to find their rhythm and succumbed to the mounting pressure of an escalating required run rate, effectively ending West Indies’ hopes of a miraculous chase. The only silver lining in an otherwise disappointing batting display came from Chinelle Henry, who unleashed a spectacular cameo of 43 runs off just 16 deliveries, but the absence of support from the other end meant her heroics were ultimately in vain.
While India’s fielding continued to show signs of inconsistency, they demonstrated marked improvement from their previous outing in the second T20I, particularly in their catching efficiency. The bowling unit’s performance in the crucial PowerPlay overs was notably superior, and the psychological advantage of defending a mammoth total allowed them to execute their plans with greater freedom.
Radha Yadav emerged as the standout performer with impressive figures of 4-29, showcasing her mastery over variations in pace that consistently bamboozled the West Indian batters.
Her left-arm spin proved particularly effective on the DY Patil Stadium pitch, which offered just enough assistance to the spinners. The collective effort from all Indian bowlers represented a significant improvement from their previous performances, effectively shutting down any possibility of a West Indies comeback.
Brief scores:
India 217-5 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 77, Richa Ghosh 54; Chinelle Henry 1-14) beat West Indies 157/9 in 20 overs (Chinelle Henry 43; Radha Yadav 4-29) by 60 runs.
