India vs WI 2nd WODI: Harleen Deol’s first hundred seals India’s series win | Cricket News

VADODARA: Harleen Deol hit a maiden hundred (115, 103b, 16×4) as India fended off a fighting century (106, 109b, 13×4) from West Indies captain Hayley Matthews to seal a convincing 115-run win in the second match at Kotambi Stadium here They won the women’s ODI series 2-0, with the third game, a day game on Friday, now just one game away formality.
The WODI series win, along with the 2-1 win against the West Indies in the previous WT20Is, is a huge confidence boost for the Indian women’s team after they were beaten 3-0 by the Australians earlier this month.

While Deol led the way to India’s second consecutive 300-plus total of the series, young opener Pratika Rawal (76, 86b, 10×4, 1×6), who scored her maiden half-century while playing only her second WODI, in- form vice-captain Smriti Mandhana (53, 47b, 7×4, 2×6) and Jemimah Rodrigues (52, 36b, 6×4, 1×6) helped India to an impressive 358 for five after electing to bat first. In typical fashion, keeper-batsman Richa Ghosh ended the innings with consecutive fours off Qiana Joseph, taking India to their highest-ever total in the format.
Chasing their highest ever total against them, the West Indies collapsed slightly early on, reeling at 69 for four in the 17th over before Matthews added 112 off 102 balls for the fifth wicket with keeper-batsman Shemaine Campbelle (38). , 48, 5×4), but the partnership ended when the latter’s off-sealer Titas Sadhu was superbly caught at cover by Mandhana in the 34th over became. Aside from the visitors’ shouts, it was all over when Rodrigues struck a stunning strike deep at mid-wicket, running and diving to grab the ball and finish Matthews’ heroic strike.

Rawal, who emerged as India’s star in the series, rounded off a fine display by taking two wickets with her useful part-time spin and taking two catches, the second a superb try at backward point. While legger Priya Mishra (3-49 in 9.2 overs) was the most successful bowler for India, the hosts’ bowling and fielding were first class on the night.
Deol has been active in international cricket for more than five and a half years now. However, the 26-year-old had just three fifties in 14 WODIs and 31 innings in international cricket, with a highest score of 77. The Chandigarh batsman now has the honor of scoring the state’s first century at the state-of-the-art Kotambi Stadium.
Deol made the most of a reprieve while batting on 26 when the leaping Deandra Dottin, at square leg, squandered her chance to off-spinner Karishma Ramharack, Deol went mad in the 45th over and Dottin for three fours through fine leg, point and Backpoint to overwhelm She moved into the 90s and then reached her 98-ball century with a well-timed boundary between fine leg and deep Reverse square leg from pacer Shamilia Connell in the 47th over. She then celebrated her victory by hitting two more fours upper-cutting and smashing the ball over the bowler’s head. She also bowled five wides in Connell’s 21-run over.
To add to their woes, the profligate West Indies conceded 25 extras and bowled as many as 17 wides.
Earlier, Rawal and Mandhana became only the third time an Indian opening pair had a stand of over 100 runs in consecutive WODIs as they added 110 in 99 balls to give India the ideal platform for a massive score. In the form of her life in 2024, Mandhana cracked her six consecutive half-centuries in all formats. Wearing a purple or perhaps gold badge, the stylish left-hander has scored 1,655 runs in international cricket in 2024 – the most runs ever scored by a batter. In ODIs this calendar year, the opener scored 743 runs in 123 games at 61.91, with four centuries
Mandhana sacrificed her wicket to Rawal, who was closing in on her maiden half-century after being run out on a risky second run. In a poignant moment, the batswoman patted her partner on the back, who had also tried to sacrifice her wicket for Mandhana, before trotting back to the pavilion.
Much more confident after her impressive 69-ball 40-run effort on debut in the opening WODI, Rawal was far more aggressive this time and reached her first international in 58 balls.
The Delhi youngster scored 62 in 75 balls with Deol. However, there was no respite for the West Indies as Rodrigues and Deol gave it their all in a 116-run stand for the fourth wicket in just 71 balls. Rodrigues, who scored a 34-ball half-century, hit James for four fours in the 46th over.