Last Update: January 30, 2023, 23:23 IST
India beat West Indies by 8 wickets
After a stellar performance with the ball from Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur produced an aggressive batting display as India chased down the modest target in 13.5 overs.
Deepti Sharma emerges as a star performer India India registered an eight-wicket win over West Indies in a crucial match for the women’s T20 tri-series final here on Monday.
If the bowlers, led by Deepti (3/11), did a brilliant job to restrict West Indies to 94 for six, Jemimah Rodrigues (42 not out) and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (32 not out) displayed aggressive batting. India chased down the modest target in 13.5 overs.
India will face hosts South Africa in the final on February 2.
Chasing 95 for the win, Smriti Mandhana (5) was late in playing the shot but Rodrigues hit three fours to reduce India’s score to 36 for one in six overs.
Harleen Deol, who was looking good, failed to clear mid off and Shabika Gajanbi was dismissed.
Captain Harmanpreet then joined Rodrigues and hit four fours to score the remaining runs with immaculate ease.
Both played a match-winning innings of 54 not out off just 40 balls.
Earlier, India justified the decision to bowl after winning the toss as they suffocated the Windies batsmen with the spin duo of Deepti and Rajeshwari Gaikwad (1/9).
Deepti shook the top-order with back-to-back wickets, removing Rashda Williams (8) and Campbell (0) before dismissing Shabika Gajanabi (12), who was stumped by Yastika Bhatia.
Left-arm spinner Gaikwad also stuck to good line and length as the Windies batsmen could not open their hands.
He was rewarded early as he was trapped in the hands of Jenaba Joseph (3) in the ninth over. Replays later showed that he had got an inside edge.
Pooja Vastrakar (2/19), who was introduced in the 10th over, took two wickets including the final wicket of Alleini off the last ball of the innings.
But it was an off day for veteran fast bowler Shikha Pandey, who conceded 28 runs in her three overs, while Renuka Singh went wicketless in her quota of 22 runs in four overs.
Hayley Mathews (34) fought for the West Indies but found no support from the other end.
Gajanabi (12) got to double figures, but it was two unexpected sixes from Jada James (21) that brought West Indies closer to 100.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)