Ahmedabad, Jan 23: West Indies Women have won the second Twenty20 match played against India at the Sardar Patel Stadium, Motera by three runs. The third match here tomorrow will be the decider with the series level at 1-1.
Chasing 108 to win, India Women managed 104/ 8 in 20 overs. Barring Poonam Raut and Harmanpreet Kaur, the rest of the line-up failed to impress.
The West Indies defended the total they set with all their might, Tremayne Smartt and Anisa Mohammed turning out to be their key bowlers. 18-year-old Shemaine Campbelle, who took the crucial wicket of Mithali Raj, was also impressive in the game.
With nine runs required off the last over, Reema Molhatra (11 *) tried hard but couldn’t win the match for India. The Indian batsmen were only able to pick singles enabling West Indies to snatch victory in a tight finish.
Earlier, West Indies Women won the toss and elected to bat first. Deandra Dottin, promoted up the order to open the innings with Juliana Nero, was out for naught. Stafanie Taylor (21), the regular opener, came in at the fall of Dottin’s wicket and was involved in a 54-run partnership with Nero. Nero scored 44 off 45 balls with seven fours before falling to Priyanka Roy.
After Jhulan Goswami picked the first wicket, Roy’s four-for had the West Indies in a spot. But some sensible batting from Shanel Daley and skipper Merissa Aguilleira (13*) down the order helped the visitors bat through their allotted 20 overs.
Brief scores: India 104/8 in 20 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 33, Poonam Raut 30, Tremayne Smartt 3/9, Anisa Mohammed 2/17) lost to West Indies 107/7 in 20 overs(JB Nero 44, SR Taylor 21, Priyanka Roy 4/19) by 3 runs
India Playing XI: J Goswami (c), M Raj, A Sharma, PG Raut, R Dhar, DP David, P Roy, R Malhotra, H Kaur, SLJ Lobatto (wk), G Sultana
West Indies Playing XI: DJS Dottin,JB Nero,SR Taylor SA Campbelle, SACA King, MR Aguilleira (c & wk), SF Daley, T Smartt, PS Etienne, A Mohammed, SC Selman.
