Veda Krishnamurthy and captain Mithali Raj's unbeaten 97-run stand for the fifth wicket helped India post a six-wicket win against West Indies in the first of the three-ODI series on Thursday.
Veda (52, 70b, 4x4, 2x6), who strode in after three quick wickets, played her natural aggressive game and took the rival attack by its scruff. She kept the momentum going by finding gaps and the bowers to suffer were Deandra Dottin, Shakera Selman and Shaquana Quintyne. She finished the match by hoisting a huge six off Shaquana over mid-wicket.
The experienced Mithali kept her head down and guided her young partner, with whom she has chased many targets in the domestic challenger fixtures.
Earlier West Indies, electing to bat, was off to a disastrous start losing its opener Shaquana trapped in front off Shikha Pandey in the second over.
The spinners – Rajeswari Gayakwad (four for 21), Ekta Bisht (three for 14) and Deepti Sharma - succeeded not only in containing runs but picking wickets at regular intervals.
“I asked Ekta (Bisht) to bowl the arm-ball right from the beginning and it worked. There was a lateral movement (of the ball) in the morning but it kept low when we batted. It is noice strip to bat,” said Mithali, after the match.
Windies batswomen fell for indiscreet strokes and hardly showed the temperament to give company to the free-stroking Merissa Aguilleira, who remained unbeaten on 42 with six rasping boundaries.
The next match will be played on November 13.
Brief scores:
West Indies: Merissa Agullieria (not out) 42, Stafanie Taylor 19; Rajeswari 4/21 Total (In 42.4 overs) 131.
India: Veda Krishnamurthy (not out) 52, Mithali Raj (not out) 46; Hayley Mathews 1/18 Total (for four wickets in 39.1 overs) 133.
Result: India won by six wickets.
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