Indian Women’s players celebrate with the championship trophy after their ODI series victory against West Indies Women in Vadodara on December 27, 2024. | Photo Credit: PTI
Deepti Sharma Shines in Series-Capping Victory
In a thrilling conclusion to the ODI series, India’s bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi dubbed Deepti Sharma a “modern-day legend” just before the final match. At Kotambi Stadium, Deepti showcased her extraordinary talent, delivering an all-round performance that steered India to a remarkable five-wicket win over the West Indies, thereby securing a 3-0 series sweep.
West Indies’ Struggles with the Bat
Upon winning the toss, West Indies opted to bat, a decision that quickly backfired. Renuka Singh Thakur unleashed her bowling prowess, claiming four wickets for 29 runs, as she dismantled the West Indies batting lineup early. Within the first five overs, the visitors found themselves reeling at just nine runs for three wickets.
Despite the shaky start, Shemaine Campbelle (46 runs off 62 balls) and Chinelle Henry (61 runs off 72 balls) collaborated for a substantial 97-run partnership for the fourth wicket, lifting West Indies past the 100-run mark. However, the momentum shifted when Campbelle attempted an aggressive shot and was caught on the boundary by Pratika Rawal, thanks to Deepti’s clever bowling.
In a fantastic spell, Deepti captured six wickets for just 31 runs, helping to collapse the opposition from 162 runs in 38.5 overs.
India’s Chase
The chase wasn’t without its challenges for India as they lost key players Smriti Mandhana and Harleen Deol quickly. However, captain Harmanpreet Kaur steadied the ship and transitioned into a counter-attack mode, nurturing the innings along with emerging star Pratika Rawal.
Even after Harmanpreet fell to Afy Fletcher, Deepti paired with Jemimah Rodrigues to put together a crucial 56-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Jemimah’s natural batting style complemented Deepti’s composed approach, especially after Deepti benefitted from a crucial reprieve. When Jemimah departed, India was well within striking distance of a win, and Deepti continued to contribute, adding 38 runs alongside power-hitter Richa Ghosh.
As the crowd cheered her on, Richa stepped up to seal the victory with a couple of sixes, cementing India’s triumph.
The Final Scores
West Indies: 162 all out in 38.5 overs (Shemaine Campbelle 46, Chinelle Henry 61; Renuka Singh 4/29, Deepti Sharma 6/31)
India: 167/5 in 28.2 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 32, Deepti Sharma 39 not out)
Toss: West Indies
Player of the Match: Deepti Sharma
Player of the Series: Renuka Singh
