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- India vs West Indies, ICC Women's T20 World Cup Warm-up highlights: India beat West Indies by 26 runs
India vs West Indies, ICC Women's T20 World Cup Warm-up highlights: India beat West Indies by 26 runs
Following their historic ICC Women's Cricket World Cup victory earlier this year, a complete performance from India saw them start their T20 World Cup preparations on a high after posting 179/8 before bowling out West Indies for 153/8. Fulmalli was the main anchor in India's innings, making an unbeaten 56 off 40 deliveries, whilst Radha and Shreyanka shared seven wickets between them to cut short the Caribbean chase.
Invited to bat, India's openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma put on a rapid 59, with Mandhana leading the way with a 39-ball 39, inclusive of 8 boundaries after a slow start from the West Indian pacers who couldn't find a regular rhythm. India reached 70/1 in the Power-play with the loss of Mandhana.
However, a slight wobble in the middle of the innings saw India lose three wickets in rapid succession before Fulmalli and Yastika Bhatia put together a solid 60-run stand for the fourth wicket. Bhatia looked in good touch until she retired out at 36 balls with 26 runs as part of an effort to get runs in the middle order, with India losing Ghosh and Radha within the space of the same over.
Fulmalli saw India home, with the opener smashing six boundaries and a six in a powerful 40-ball innings to guide India to a strong total. Afy Fletcher was the only bowler to distinguish herself as the West Indies attack looked to lack sting for most of the innings, as she recorded 4/23 from her four overs.
In reply, Deandra Dottin and Shemaine Campbelle offered resistance in the early stages, putting together a 63-run opening stand, but were way behind the rate and only managed 37 runs in the powerplay. The turning point of the innings came after the dismissal of Campbelle, who walked off, and it signalled the beginning of a middle-order collapse.
The spinners turned a positive start into a struggling 103/6. Shreyanka took the honours, with a brilliant 4/36, whilst Radha also took a superb 3/25, with the spinners extracting a great amount of turn from the pitch.
Dottin looked as though she would keep the chase alive with a 49-ball 41, but departed 1 run shy of a half-century. Though Alleyne and Shawnisha Hector gave India a scare, the visitors never really troubled India's total.
.... THE RUN CHASE ...
Ready for the second inning? As the Windies prepare to embark on their run chase, the question lingers, can they successfully chase down the target, or will the Women in Blues' bowling unit rise to the challenge? The stage is set for a riveting second innings. Stay tuned as the first delivery of the second inning is not far away.
Bhatia and Fulmali steadied the ship - Calm was eventually restored through Yastika Bhatia, who handled the turbulence with composure and clarity, picking out the gaps for boundaries while rotating the strike intelligently to keep the scoreboard moving. Bharti Fulmali initially played a supporting role, but as the partnership grew in confidence, she began to find the boundary with increasing regularity, helping India rebuild with purpose. Just when the innings looked to have steadied, however, a fresh twist arrived. Yastika had to retire hurt, and Afy Fletcher pounced on the opportunity ruthlessly. The 39-year-old claimed two wickets in a single over, then returned to snare another in her final over, finishing with a stunning spell of 4-0-23-4 that threatened to derail India entirely. Through it all, Fulmali stood firm, despite watching wickets fall around her, yet refusing to waver. A brilliant half-century from her ensured India crossed the 175-run mark and gave their bowlers something meaningful to defend.
Flying start for India - India's openers set off with clear aggressive intent, taking the attack to the Windies bowlers from the very first ball. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma constructed a formidable 59-run partnership off just 32 balls, threatening to set the tone for a commanding total. However, the momentum shifted sharply when Karishma drew first blood for the hosts, and from there, the innings unravelled briefly but dramatically. What had been 59 for no loss quickly became 85 for 3, as West Indies claimed three wickets in successive overs to claw their way back into the contest.
Inning filled with drama - What an inning it was! The pendulum of momentum was swinging from one way to the other throughout the inning, but we can say that the Women in Blue will get the slight edge after the completion of the first inning. India Women have posted 179 runs on the board. However, the way they started the inning, we all thought that the scoreline would cross the 200 mark, but the Windies replied well.
- Bharti Fulmali 56 (40)
- Sree Charani 2 (2)
Aaliyah Alleyne to Bharti Fulmali, That's excellently done in the end by Jannillea Glasgow. Fullish length, slanting it into the pads. Bharti Fulmali lifts it high towards the long on fence. Glasgow gets right on the edge of the ropes and pouches it well, but recognizes that she's about to go over the ropes. She does well to flick the ball back in and keeps it down to two runs. India Women finish with 179/8 on the board.
Aaliyah Alleyne to Sree Charani, Charani backs away early and moves well past the leg stump. Aaliyah Alleyne follows her with a full one and this is hit down to long on for a run.
Aaliyah Alleyne to Bharti Fulmali, Alleyne keeps the length full, bowls it straight at the stumps. Fulmali backs away and swats it down to long on for just another single.
Aaliyah Alleyne to Sree Charani, Full-pitched on middle, Sree Charani stays deep in the crease and hacks it towards deep mid-wicket for a single.
Aaliyah Alleyne to Bharti Fulmali, Slower one, back of a length and around off. Fulmali forces the lofted shot down to long off and picks up a single. Fulmali looks for two, but it's never on. Maybe Fulmali could have denied the single altogether.
Aaliyah Alleyne to Bharti Fulmali, Yorker-length delivery, angled into middle and leg. Fulmali fails to get it away.
Deandra Dottin gets her first wicket. Sree Charani strides out to the middle.
- Kranti Gaud 4 (2)
- Bharti Fulmali 52 (36)
Deandra Dottin to Kranti Gaud, OUT! TIMBER! Too good for Kranti Gaud. A searing yorker on off, tails back in as well. Kranti Gaud hangs back and looks to jam the bat down, but she's late on it and the ball goes on to smash into off and middle stump. No celebration from Deandra Dottin either.
Deandra Dottin to Kranti Gaud, FOUR! Oh, not a great delivery, but that should have been fielded. Overpitched and around off, punched to the right of extra cover, where Ashmini Munisar dives and lets it through. There's no attempt from the mid off fielder and the ball races away into the fence.
Deandra Dottin to Bharti Fulmali, Down the wrong line from Dottin and Bharti Fulmali brings up her FIFTY as well. Slower one, turns out to be a full toss on leg. Fulmali helps it down to fine leg and picks up three runs.
Deandra Dottin to Bharti Fulmali, FOUR! That's well played by Fulmali. Slower ball on leg stump, Fulmali hangs deep, gets inside the line and clobbers it over backward square leg for a boundary.
Deandra Dottin to Bharti Fulmali, Another yorker, this time on middle and quicker. Fulmali jams it back to the bowler.
Kranti Gaud is the new batter at the crease.
Deandra Dottin to Bharti Fulmali, Back-of-the-hand slower ball, bowled on a yorker length on middle and leg. Fulmali can only manage to dig it out.
- Shreyanka Patil 2 (5)
- Bharti Fulmali 45 (32)
Afy Fletcher to Shreyanka Patil, OUT! CAUGHT! That's a fine way to round off a fine spell from Afy Fletcher, and she ends with figures of 4 for 23 in her 4 overs. Flighted ball, on middle, not all that full. Shreyanka Patil goes on one knee, reaches for it and slog-sweeps it straight down the throat of a widish long on. Jannillea Glasgow takes a simple catch.
Afy Fletcher to Bharti Fulmali, Another one that's floated up very full, on middle, Fulmali clears the front leg and jams it straight down the ground for a single.
Afy Fletcher to Shreyanka Patil, Tossed up on middle and leg, Patil sits down and slog-sweeps it in front of deep mid-wicket for just one more.
Afy Fletcher to Shreyanka Patil, Wide! Dragged-down, wide outside off, and left alone for a wide.
Afy Fletcher to Bharti Fulmali, Looking for two, but they won't get it. Speared in at the toes, Fulmali clips it to the right of long on and settles for the single.
Afy Fletcher to Shreyanka Patil, Looped up, over the batter's eyeline and drops right on the popping crease on off. Patil jams it past point and rotates strike.
Afy Fletcher to Bharti Fulmali, A mix-up between the fielders, but it doesn't cost an extra run. Floated full and around leg, clipped away towards deep mid-wicket for a run.
- Shreyanka Patil 0 (2)
- Bharti Fulmali 42 (29)
Deandra Dottin to Shreyanka Patil, Slightly fuller, angled into middle, Patil leans on to block but gets a bit of a leading edge to the left of the bowler.
Deandra Dottin to Bharti Fulmali, On off, hit away down to long off for a single.
Deandra Dottin to Bharti Fulmali, Good length outside off, Fulmali swats it away towards deep point and looks for the second run. The throw from the deep is a sluggish one and Fulmali makes it back with ease.
Deandra Dottin to Bharti Fulmali, Quicker one, on a hard length and wide outside off. Fulmali swings and misses.
Deandra Dottin to Bharti Fulmali, FOUR! Nicely helped away by Fulmali. Length and on the pads, just nudged away behind square leg and the ball speeds away to the fence.
Deandra Dottin to Bharti Fulmali, That's well bowled. Back of a length, on middle and leg, Bharti Fulmali backs away and swings wildly across the line, only managing an inside edge onto the pads.
Deandra Dottin to Bharti Fulmali, NO BALL! Dottin with the false start. Full and spilled down leg, Fulmali misses the flick but she will now have a go at the Free Hit.
Another change. Deandra Dottin has been brought into the attack.
- Shreyanka Patil 0 (1)
- Bharti Fulmali 35 (23)
Afy Fletcher to Shreyanka Patil, Tossed up, in and around off, Patil lunges to defend.
Shreyanka Patil walks out next.
Afy Fletcher to Radha Yadav, OUT! TAKEN! That's a really sharp catch from Ashmini Munisar, her third of the day. Afy Fletcher floats the ball up, full and outside off, inviting the drive. Radha Yadav leans ahead and strokes it uppishly and in front of extra cover. Munisar dives forward and gobbles it just inches off the ground. India Women are now 148/6.
Afy Fletcher to Bharti Fulmali, Lobbed really full and on the stumps, Fulmali opts to hit it off the back foot and mistimes it down to long off for just a single.
Afy Fletcher to Radha Yadav, A googly, bowled on leg stump, Yadav taps it into the leg side and picks up a single.
Radha Yadav is the new batter in.
Afy Fletcher to Richa Ghosh, OUT! TAKEN! Afy Fletcher gets her second wicket and picks up a crucial wicket of Richa Ghosh. Tossed up, fuller, on middle. Richa Ghosh gets down to sweep it, but gets the connection off the top edge. The ball balloons toward the left of the short third fielder and it's Qiana Joseph who takes a good catch.
Afy Fletcher to Bharti Fulmali, Full, on middle, Bharti Fulmali drives it back to the bowler. Afy Fletcher misfields and the batter gets a single.
Yastika Bhatia has not recovered from the injury suffered and won't be able to participate any more with the bat. As it stands, Yastika Bhatia is retired out.
Yastika Bhatia has been retired out and out comes Richa Ghosh as India Women look to go big in the last 5 overs.
- Bharti Fulmali 33 (21)
- Yastika Bhatia 36 (26)
Jahzara Claxton to Bharti Fulmali, Nearly a run-out! The communication between the batters has not been up to the mark. Bumper, on middle, Bharti Fulmali looks to pull but misses the proper connection. The ball hits the inner part of the bat and bounces off to short fine leg. Yastika Bhatia shouts for a single and gets to the strike's end, but Fulmali looks lost. However, she gets her mind into the game and runs at the bowler's end. The fielder misses out on a direct hit and Fulmali gets home safely.
Jahzara Claxton to Yastika Bhatia, On a length, outside off, Yastika Bhatia drives it to deep extra cover for one.
Jahzara Claxton to Bharti Fulmali, Low full toss, outside off, Bharti Fulmali punches it from the toe end of the bat to mid on and gets a single.
Jahzara Claxton to Bharti Fulmali, FOUR! Cracked! Bangs a shorter one, well outside off. Bharti Fulmali hops a bit and extends her arms to cut it toward the left of the point fielder four runs.
Jahzara Claxton to Yastika Bhatia, Short of a length, outside off, Yastika Bhatia pulls it to long on and gets a single.
Jahzara Claxton to Yastika Bhatia, Much fuller, just outside off, Yastika Bhatia shuffles across the stumps to ramp it over short fine leg, but misses the connection and hits her right boot, before the ball deflects off toward short third.
Match Statistics
Venue
Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
