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Mohali: The Indian women’s cricket team was on Sunday knocked out of the World T20 after suffering a narrow three-run defeat against the West Indies, here. (Women’s World T20: India Face Do-or-Die Situation Against West Indies)
Replying to West Indies total 114 for eight, India made a mess of their chase, managing 111 for nine and suffered their third defeat in a row.
Deandra Dottin emerged star for the Caribbean side as she first smashed 45 runs off 40 balls and then scalped three Indian batswoman at crucial time.
India eves started chase on a faulty note when skipper Mithali Raj was sent back to pavilion for a duck by pacer Shamila Connell in the first over.
Veda Krishnamurthy (18), who had hit three boundaries of rival skipper Stafanie Taylor’s first over, failed to last long and lobbed a catch to mid-wicket to Stacy-Ann King becoming Dottin’s first scalp.
Connell bowled a very tight spell, choking Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur. With runs not coming, Kaur played a lofted shot spinner Afy Fletcher only to find Kyshona Knight at the deep cover.
The 19-year-old Smriti Mandhana (22), who tried to break the shackles hitting a six of off-spinner Anisa Mohd. in the 12th over, was unlucky when she played it on to the stumps attempting a late cut off off-spinner Afy Fletcher.
At 4-75 in 15 overs, India eves needed 40 runs for victory in the last five overs with Anuja Patil and Jhulan Goswami at the crease.
West Indies dominate
West Indies eves kept up the pressure and no boundaries came off between the 12th-16th over. The hosts struggled and failed to build partnerships.
Spinner Shaquana trapped Anuja in the 18th over. Anuja made 26 off 27 balls.
Soon, Goswami (25) was run out in the penultimate over, leaving India tottering at 6-104.
Last over drama
Indian required 10 runs off the last over, bowled by Dottin, but it proved a tall order for the lower-order batswoman. Shikha Pandey hit a boundary but was run out in the next ball. A wild swing by Sushma Verma (1) only gave Dottin another wicket as Taylor held the catch.
For the West Indies, Dottin returned figures of 4-0-16-3. Connell (4-1-15-1) and Fletcher (4-0-15-2) also contributed in their team’s win.
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Bowlers put India on top
Asking West Indies to bat first, bowlers put India on top, with spinners Ekta Bisht and Anuja Patil sharing four of the eight scalps while medium pacer Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar picked up four including three of the innings’ last over.
Left-arm spinner Ekta provided the first breakthrough when she castled opener Hayley Matthews (6) in the fourth over of the innings on a ball that kept low.
In the very next over, off-spinner Anuja Patil had Kyoshona Knight LBW for a 4-ball duck in the 5th over.
Anuja was back to inflict more damage in her next over when she had Shaquana Quintyne (4) bowled out, leaving WI in a spot of bother at 3-26 in the seventh over.
At this stage, WI skipper Stafanie Taylor and middle-order batsman Deandra batted sensibly through the middle overs to keep the scoreboard moving.
While Taylor’s 47 came off 45 balls with five boundaries, Dottin was also impressive with her 40-ball 45 run knock, which also had five hits to the fence. They weaved together a 77-run stand for the fourth wicket.
Dottin picked up two boundaries in the 17th over bowled by Rajeshwari Gayakwad, as West Indies were past 100 runs score in 17th over.
Just as the duo gained in confidence and were batting with ease, Harmanpreet Kaur had Taylor caught by Anuja.
Moments later, Anuja was again in the thick of action when she had Stacy-Ann King (2) bowled in the 19th over.
In the final over of the innings, Harmanpreet Kaur picked up Dottin, Shemaine Campbelle (1) and Shamilia Connell (0) restricting West Indies to modest total.
Harmanpreet Kaur finished with figures of 3-0-23-4 while Anuja took 3 wickets for 16 runs.
Source: NDTV