There’s no stopping Smriti Mandhana. Despite quick turnaround time after a hectic T20I series, she swiftly changed formats and continued her fine form with a classy 91 (102b, 13×4) as India went on to put up 314 for 9 – its second-highest total in ODIs at home – before Renuka Singh Thakur’s maiden fifer (5 for 29) guided India to a 211-run win against the West Indies in the series opener.
As the Kotambi Stadium hosted its maiden international fixture on Sunday, Smriti, coming on the back of three consecutive T20I fifties, set the platform and forged a 110-run opening partnership with debutant Pratika Rawal on a sluggish black soil surface.
Inserted in, India was slow to start as Smriti and Pratika took time to assess the conditions. While it took Pratika 33 deliveries to hit her first boundary, Smriti was at her fluent best as she kept the scoreboard ticking and ensured there was no slip-up.
HIGHLIGHTS – INDIA vs WEST INDIES, 1st WODI
With Smriti taking off the pressure with a few boundaries, Pratika could slowly build her innings and stitch a steady partnership. Smriti hammered a Afy Fletcher delivery past mid-wicket to bring up her 28th ODI fifty – fifth consecutive across formats – and looked in fine touch.
West Indies captain Hayley Matthews ended Pratika’s stay with a sharp return catch, but India did not stutter as Smriti built another 50-run stand with Harleen Deol before being trapped leg before by Zaida James (5 for 45) – nine short of a century.
Though Zaida impressed, listless bowling from the other end and sloppy fielding let West Indies down, and making most of the opportunity, India could build regular partnerships en route to the 300-run mark.
West Indies was unhappy with the DRS overturning Harleen’s dismissal early on, it somehow chugged back to prevent the home team from going past 325.
Negating the dew factor, Renuka’s fiery opening spell and some tight bowling by Titas Sadhu meant West Indies was never in the chase. While Qiana Joseph was run out on the first ball, Renuka added to Windies’ woes with a few unplayable in-swingers. As the top-order crumbled, the visiting team was reeling at 34 for 6, before being bundled out for 103.
The scores: India 314/9 in 50 overs (Smriti 91, Harleen 44, Pratika 40; Zaida 5/45) bt West Indies 103 in 26.2 overs (Fletcher 24 n.o., Campbelle 21; Renuka 5/29, Priya 2/22); Toss: West Indies