ICC Women's World Cup 2022: Smriti Mandhana is Player of the Match against West Indies
The Indian team defeated West Indies by 155 runs in their third match of the ICC Women's World Cup 2022 on Saturday at Hamilton. West Indies were set a target of 318 but could only muster 162 as they were all out in 40.3 overs.
Only Deandra Dottin (62) showed some fight for the Caribbean side as they were undone by Indian bowlers, especially Sneh Rana who took three wickets.
After winning the toss, Team India batted first and scored 317/8 in their 50 overs. The stars of the Indian innings were Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana who both scored centuries.
Mandhana scored 123 in 119 balls while Harmanpreet, about whom a lot had been said and written before the tournament, played a brilliant knock of 109.
Seventh consecutive win for India in Women's World Cup over West Indies
India registered their seventh consecutive win over the West Indian side in the history of the Women's World Cup. Earlier, Team India had defeated West Indies in the 1993, 1997, 2005, 2009, 2013, and 2017 editions of the event.
Jhalan Goswami becomes highest wicket taker
India's veteran fast bowler Jhulan Goswami achieved a new record during India's win over the West Indies. The Chakda Express took her 40th wicket to become the most successful bowler in the history of this tournament.
Jhulan broke Australian cricketer Lyn Fullston's record for the leading wicket-taker in Women's World Cup history. Fulston had picked up 39 wickets in 20 games, played between 1982 and 1988. It took 31 games for Jhulan to complete 40 wickets.
Meghna, Sneh gave initial setbacks to West Indies
The West Indies team had a good start to their innings. But then, Meghna Singh and Sneh Rana jolted them severely, getting four wickets quickly. Kycia Knight and captain Stephanie Taylor were dismissed by Meghna while Sneh Rana got both the well-set openers - Dottin and Hayley Matthews.
Opener Dottin was dismissed for 62 off 46 balls. She was out playing a sweep against Rana, caught at short fine leg by Meghna.
Hayley Matthews, on the other hand, was undone by a flighted delivery from Sneh, off which wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh took the catch.
Mandhana's Magic
Smriti Mandhana scored a century in just 108 balls in this match. This was her fifth century in ODI cricket and second in Women's World Cup. Interestingly, Mandhana had scored a century against West Indies in the 2017 World Cup also.