Harleen Deol's coming-of-age maiden hundred powered India Women to a 115-run win over West Indies Women in the second ODI at the Kotami Stadium in Vadodara on Tuesday, which also sealed them the series with an unassailable 2-0 lead.
Thanks to Harleen, India posted a massive 358/5 equalling their highest-ever ODI total, which was also the highest any team has scored against the Windies Women.
Harleen (115 off 103 balls) led India's batting effort with a composed innings and she received ample support from Pratika Rawal (76), Smriti Mandhana (53) and Jemimah Rodrigues (52) after the hosts decided to bat first.
In reply, the visitors could reach just 243 despite captain Hayley Matthews’ 106. Among India’s bowlers, leg-spinner Priya Mishra (3/49) finished with best figures while Deepti Sharma, Titas Sadhu and Pratika Rawal struck twice apiece as the Windies were all out with 22 balls to spare.
"It's a proud moment for me... Had been waiting for it for a long time. I'm just enjoying it at the moment," Harleen said later.
"When I came in to bat, I had that much time to build my innings. I thought of just playing some cricket and felt that the more I spent time at the crease, the more shots I could play later."
The Indian team management will be mighty pleased by Harleen’s hundred as she seems to have grown from being a predominantly off-side player during this knock. Not precisely a power-hitter, the right-hander has added more nuances to her batting through the ability to find the angles and gaps.
It was evident when she peppered Deandra Dottin for three fours through fine leg, point and behind point to move into the 90s. Her 100 came along with a nicely-timed boundary off pacer Shamilia Connell in 98 balls.
But for the big total, India should also thank Smriti and Rawal for adding 110 runs in the opening stand in just 16.3 overs, their second successive 100-run partnership in ODIs. They looked hardly in any trouble until some lethargic running between the wickets resulted in Smriti’s run out.
Rawal, who raised her maiden ODI fifty in 58 balls, looked well settled for a hundred in only her second 50-over game. But the right-hander failed to negotiate Zaida James’ delivery with a bit of extra bounce, scooping it to Qiana Joseph at short mid-wicket.
She added 62 runs for the second wicket with Harleen.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur could not produce a big one, getting bowled in her attempt to slog sweep Afy Fletcher’s full-length delivery.
The Windies hoped for some respite after Harmanpreet’s dismissal, but Jemimah Rodrigues joined Harleen to add a further 116 in a little over 12 overs for the fourth wicket.
Jemimah, who reached fifty off just 34 balls, was at her innovative best as she clobbered Connell for four fours in an over as India motored in the backend of their innings.
Brief scores: India Women 358/5 in 50 ovs (Harleen Deol 115, Pratika Rawal 76, Smriti Mandhana 53; Afy Fletcher 1/38). WI Women 243 in 46.2 ovs (Hayley Matthews 106; Priya Mishra 3/49, Deepti Sharma 2/40). India Women won by 115 runs.
