India secured a dominant 211-run victory over West Indies in the first ODI of the series, following a one-sided contest. Despite not reaching their full potential with the bat, India posted a challenging 314 for 9, thanks to a strong 91 from Smriti Mandhana and 40 from debutant Pratika Rawal. Mandhana and Rawal’s partnership put India in control, but their approach sparked mixed feelings. Rawal, despite some luck, built a solid foundation before being dismissed by a spectacular catch. Mandhana, who brought up her 28th half-century in ODIs, continued her aggressive play, but Harleen Deol’s struggles forced her to alter her game plan.
In the middle overs, India lost momentum due to some cautious batting, with Harmanpreet Kaur’s quick-fire 32 and cameos from Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh providing the necessary push. However, they lost wickets in quick succession towards the end, allowing West Indies’ Zaida James to claim a maiden ODI five-wicket haul.
In reply, West Indies were never in the hunt. Renuka Singh, with her brilliant 5-29, put India in control early, dismissing key players like Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin. Despite Heinrich Klaasen’s fighting 81, West Indies crumbled, folding for just 103 runs. India’s bowlers, including Titas Sadhu and Priya Mishra, supported Renuka’s fiery spell, taking wickets at regular intervals. The West Indies will need to regroup ahead of the next ODI as they face a daunting challenge in the series.
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