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Harmanpreet Kaur-led India registered a comprehensive win over West Indies before the final showdown of tri-series in South Africa. India beat West Indies by eight wickets with 37 balls to spare as celebrations continued in the camp after junior side's World Cup win on January 29.
Harmanpreet won the toss and opted to field first at Buffalo Park, East London. Deepti Sharma was exceptional in the powerplay overs. Not only the off-spinner kept a lid on boundaries but he got Rashada Williams (8) and S Campbelle (0) bowled off consecutive deliveries of eighth over.
While skipper Hayley Matthews anchored the innings, Djenaba Joseph struggled to even rotate the strike. In the ninth over, Rajeshwari Gayakwad trapped Djenaba in front of the stumps with an arm ball. She scored just three runs from 15 deliveries.
Hayley tried to accelerate but the pressure of dot balls got the better of her. She pulled a short one from Pooja Vastrakar but the top edge landed in wicketkeeper Yastika Bhatia's gloves. The Caribbean skipper scored a run-a-ball 34.
The first six of the innings was hit by Zaida James in the 16th over after facing too many dot deliveries. Deepti returned to complete her quota of four overs and struck again to dismiss Shabika Gajnabi (12) who got stumped while charging down the track. In the same over, Zaida hit the second six of the innings. In the final two overs, only one boundary was scored. Aaliya Alleyne (9) got out in an attempt to hit big. On the other end, Zaida remained unbeaten for 21 off 31 deliveries as West Indies managed to post a below par score of 94/6.
In the run chase of 95, India lost their star opener Smriti Mandhana early. Smriti got bowled by Shamillia Connell. She could score only five runs. Jemimah Rodrigues hit a few boundaries from the powerplay overs as India had 36/1 on the board. Skipper Hayley kept her team in the game as she got the better of Harleen Deol in the eighth over. Harleen went for the big shot but got caught by mid-off fielder.
Harmanpreet got off the mark with a boundary and was not troubled by West Indies bowlers. The unbeaten 54-run third-wicket partnership helped India get over the line in the 14th over. Jemimah remained unbeaten for 42 off 39 deliveries including five fours. On the other end, skipper Harmanpreet scored 32 off 23 deliveries including four fours.
“Any team if you get them for less than for 100 is good but we should have tried to keep them to under 80. It is a great positive to have many options and an opportunity for us to get our final combination right before the World Cup. Whoever is getting a chance, they are really doing well. Really happy she got some runs [Rodrigues]. For me being there is very important and it's always good when you are getting the runs,” Harmanpreet said in the post-match presentation.
India will now take on South Africa in the final of the tri-nation T20I series on February 2 at the same venue. The team will then play warm-ups before the T20 World Cup 2023 in South Africa.
