STATS HIGHLIGHTS
Follow UsIt was indeed a perfect Saturday for the fans of Indian cricket as the Women in Blue bounced back after their below-par performance against New Zealand to record a thumping 155-run win against the West Indies in their third league match of the Women's World Cup.
After electing to bat first in this crucial encounter, India started the innings in a commanding fashion courtesy of a blistering knock from Yastika Bhatia. The southpaw smashed 31 off 21 deliveries, with six boundaries to help the team off to a flying start.
While she was dismissed in the seventh over and India lost their skipper, Mithali Raj and Deepti Sharma early, Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur smashed centuries to propel the side to 317 for eight in their quota of 50 overs. This monumental first innings total is also their highest score at the quadrennial event.
In pursuit of 318 runs, the Windies got off to a blazing start, with Deandra Dottin and Hayley Matthews forging a 100-run stand for the first wicket. However, a batting collapse resulted in the team losing five wickets for 27 runs and eventually got bundled out for 162 runs in the second innings.
The margin of 155 runs for victory is the second-highest for the Indian team in the World Cup. In a virtual quarter-final against New Zealand in the 2017 edition of the mega event, the Women in Blue recorded a 186-run win, which is their biggest margin of victory. Here are some of the other notable stats from this game:
Mithali Raj scripts history
One of the greatest players in the history of women's cricket, Mithali Raj, etched her name in the record books to lead the Women in Blue in 24 matches in the Women's World Cup surpassing Karen Roltan's record of being at the helm for Australia in 23 games.
In the last match against the White Ferns, the 39-year old became the only player to captain the side in 150 games in the 50-over format.
Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur shatter World Cup records
After a dismal batting performance in the league match against New Zealand, the onus of the side relied heavily on the experienced players to guide the team to a massive first innings total.
Despite losing three early wickets, Mandhana and Harmanpreet stitched a 184-run stand for the fourth wicket to lay a solid foundation in order to launch an attack in the back end of the innings.
Displaying an array of strokes all around the ground, the duo recorded the highest partnership for India at the mega event, surpassing Thirush Kamini and Punam Raut's 175 against the same opposition in the inaugural match of the 2013 edition of the World Cup at home.
En route to this blistering stand, the duo also breached the record for the highest fourth-wicket partnership in the Women's World Cup, going past Tammy Beaumont and Natalie Sciver's 170 against New Zealand at Derby in the last edition of the extravaganza.
West Indies openers off to a flyer
Chasing 318 was always going to be a mountain to climb for the West Indies outfit. However, Deandra Dottin and Hayley Matthews had other ideas as they started the run chase in a commanding fashion by amassing 100 in the first 12 overs.
While Dottin was the aggressor of the two as she smashed Jhulan Goswami for three boundaries in the innings to keep pace with the required run rate, Matthews accumulated the ones and the twos to keep the scoreboard ticking.
However, the 30-year old was undone by the turn and bounce of Sneh Rana as she top-edged to Meghna Singh for a destructive 62 off 46 balls, bringing an end to the century stand, which was also their highest opening partnership in the World Cup.
In their last league match against England, the duo scored 81 runs in the first innings, which is now the second-highest opening stand for the Windies.
Anisa Mohammed equals Cathryn Fitzpatrick
Despite enduring a day to forget, West Indies have something to cheer as their vice-captain Anisa Mohammed equalled the record of the second-most wickets by a player in the women's 50-over format.
With the vital scalps of Deepti and Pooja Vastrakar, the off-spinner has 180 scalps, which is the second-most, along with Cathryn Fitzpatrick of Australia.
Jhulan Goswami's bitter-sweet day
After equalling the record of Australia's left-arm spinner Lyn Fullston's tally of 39 wickets in the World Cup, the veteran Indian seamer scalped the wicket of Mohammed to become the highest wicket-taker in the history of women's World Cup with 40 wickets.
The 39-year old was at the receiving end of the Windies openers as she conceded five boundaries in one over to put the Indian bowling plans in disarray. However, a milestone to end a tough day on the field will make her and the fans of India cricket proud of her achievements in her two-decade-long career.
