NEW DELHI: India Women started their ODI series against West Indies Women in a commanding fashion, powered by an all-round performance and a spectacular one-handed catch from captain Harmanpreet Kaur that left fans and players alike in awe.
The highlight of the game came in the 11th over of West Indies’ chase. Renuka Singh delivered a fuller-length ball angled toward the stumps, prompting Aaliyah Alleyne to take an ambitious swing.
The ball seemed destined to cross the infield, but Harmanpreet Kaur, stationed at mid-on, had other plans.
She leapt into the air and plucked the ball with her right hand in an incredible display of athleticism and reflexes, dismissing Alleyne for 13.
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Harmanpreet’s jaw-dropping catch left the West Indies reeling at 26/5.
Earlier, India Women posted a massive 314-9 after being asked to bat first.
The top-order efforts from Smriti Mandhana (91) and Pratika Rawal (40) set a solid foundation, while Harleen Deol and Harmanpreet Kaur contributed 44 and 34 runs, respectively.
Richa Ghosh (26) and Jemimah Rodrigues (31) capitalized on the strong start, helping India cross the 300-run mark despite Zaida James’s brilliant five-wicket haul for the visitors.
The first innings performance reinforced India’s dominance, with contributions from every department in the batting order.
Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership shone, not just with her athleticism on the field but also through her key middle-order innings.
Renuka Singh, supported by Titas Sadhu and Deepti Sharma, dismantled the Windies’ batting lineup, brining India close to victory in the opening match of the ICC Women’s Championship series.