St Kitts, March 1: India won the first ODI of the three-match series against West Indies by 76 runs at Warner Park in Basseterre, St Kitts.
Asked to bat, half-centuries by Mithali Raj (57) and Amita Sharma (51*), and a useful 23 by Madhuri Mehta, saw the visitors post 179 runs on the board.
Opener Sulakshana Naik (1) was the first to return to the dressing room, caught at cover by Deandra Dottin off medium-pacer Pearl Etienne with the score on nine.
Skipper Anjum Chopra was the next to walk back (8), edging a Shanel Daley delivery to Merissa Aguilleira. Madhuri and Mithali then came together to build a 41-run partnership, which was broken by spinner Anisa Mohammed; at this point, India had lost three quick wickets for just four runs.
However, Amita joined Mithali at the crease and the duo stabilised the innings with a 74-run stand. The partnership was broken when Anisa claimed Mithali’s wicket. Remaining unbeaten on 51, Amita took India to a par score in their stipulated 50 overs.
Chasing 180, the West Indies innings was wrapped up for 103 with 19 balls to spare. Amita gave India their first breakthrough with the wicket of Stafanie Taylor in the fourth over. Left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht then followed it up with the wicket of Daley and later dismissed Juliana Nero and skipper Merissa.
Nero top-scored for the home team with 23 runs while Dottin contributed 20 before being sent back by Gouhar Sultana, who also removed Britney Cooper. However, their efforts were in vain as the West Indies batting line-up struggled against India’s left-arm spinners.
Besides Bisht and Sultana, Jhulan Goswami, Amita and Archan Das chipped in with a wicket each to help India seal a comprehensive victory.
Brief score: India 179/7 in 50 overs (M Raj 57, A Sharma 51*, M Mehta 23, A Mohammed 3/41) beat West Indies 103 all out in 46.5 overs (JB Nero 23, Ekta Bisht 3/18, G Sultana 2/9) by 76 runs
