Staff Writer – Archi
The West Indies women made a disastrous start to their World Cup campaign going down to hosts India by 105 runs in the Cup opener at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai, India, on Friday
India now hold a 5-0 record against the Caribbeans in all World Cup competitions. This was also India’s biggest victory in the quadrennial event against the West Indies.
Spurred by a brilliant maiden century from Chennai girl Thirush Kamini Murugesan and her 175-run opening stand with Poonam Raut (72: 94b, 7x4s), the hosts posted a formidable 284 for 6 wickets before bowling out their opponents for only 179 runs in 44.3 overs.
India’s total was their highest ever in a World Cup tie. Their previous best of 275 had come against New Zealand, in Christchurch, in 2000.
A late charge by pinch-hitter Jhulan Goswami (36: 21b, 6x4s) and Harmanpreet Kaur (36: 22b, 4x4s, 2x6s) helped India to post a record tally.
Kamini’s 146-ball knock won her the Player-of-the-match award. She also became the first Indian woman player to hit a century in World Cup. The previous best was skipper Mithali Raj’s 91 against the Kiwis at Pochefstroom in the 2005 edition.
Kamini’s hundred was studded with 11 fours and a six, with her most effective stroke being the scoop, taking inspiration from Sri Lankan opener Tillakaratne Dilshan.
Woman of the match Thirush Kamini Murugesan. Photo courtesy deccanchronicle.com
The West Indies got off to a disastrous start with Kycia Knight, twin sister of Kyshona, being run out off a direct hit by Harmanpreet on the second ball of the innings as she attempted to steal a quick single.
ICC woman ODI Player-of-the-Year Stafanie Taylor (9) tried to up the ante but failed, offering an easy catch to Karuna Jain off Amita Sharma to leave the visitors reeling at 15-2.
Shamaine Campbelle (21) and Kyshona (11) tried to revive the innings but persished in the process. Deandra Dottin (39: 16b, 3x4s, 4x6s), who has the fastest T20 century to her credit, was the only one who took the fight to the Indian bowlers, hitting four sixes and three boundaries. Her brave knock ended when Niranjana Nagarajan deceived her with a slower one and trapped her in front of the stumps.
Deandra Dottin. Photo courtesy iccworldtwenty20.com
Shanel Daley (28) and skipper Merissa Aguilleira (18) too succumbed to some tight bowling and smart fielding by the Indians, who coasted to an easy win.
India skipper Mithali Raj was, however, surprised with her West Indian counterpart Merissa Aguilleira’s decision to field first on winning the toss.
“If I had won the toss, I would have batted first, because on this flat track, it would be easy to post a huge total rather than chasing 285 runs,” Raj said after the match. “They won the toss and decided to field, which is surprising to me,” she added.
Aguilleira, however said it was a team decision.
“I think it is about what you are comfortable with. It was a good batting wicket but the team decided that we are going to field first. So it was a team decision… we need to go back to the drawing board and come back strongly for the next game,” Aguilleira said.
Though India defeated the West Indies by a huge margin, Raj said she was nervous when the 21-year-old player from Barbados, Deandra Dottin, was at the crease.
“I was thinking from where she got so much of strength to clear the boundary and then (do it) repeatedly. I wouldn’t say the bowlers were bowling bad but I give her credit for playing such wonderful strokes. Sometimes you just get zapped and say wow what shots. But that period was a little dangerous. I am glad that she didn’t continue.”
Asked if youngster Dottin would go up the batting order in the next matches, Aguilleira said, “I think Dottin is in a good position. If she would have spent another 10 overs there, she could have done extremely well and get the score closer. I guess it is about applying yourself and staying there for the team, though she didn’t do that. I believe she has got the potential, so eventually that is going to happen.”
Brief scores: India 284-6 in 50 overs (Thirush Kamini 100, Poonam Raut 72, Jhulan Goswami 36, Harmanpreet Kaur 36, Deandra Dottin 3-32)
West Indies 179 all out in 44.3 overs (Deandra Dottin 39, Nagarajan Niranjana 3-52, Jhulan Goswami 2-13, Gouher Sultana 2-38)
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