India secured a dominant 60-run victory over West Indies in the third T20I in Navi Mumbai, clinching the series 2-1. Smriti Mandhana delivered a stellar performance, crafting a stylish 77 off just 47 balls, marking her third half-century of the series. Richa Ghosh added the finishing fireworks with a blistering 54 from just 21 deliveries, ensuring India posted a massive 217-run total despite batting on a pitch that had already seen heavy use in the previous games.
Although the dew made conditions challenging, West Indies fell short, failing to muster any significant resistance while chasing the daunting 218-run target.
The game didn’t start perfectly for India, as Uma Chetry departed in the very first over, echoing her struggles from the previous match. However, Mandhana quickly shifted gears, counterattacking to help India reach a rollicking 61-run powerplay. Jemimah Rodrigues, in sublime touch, supported Mandhana with a fluent 39 off 28 balls. Together, they stitched a crucial 98-run partnership in just 55 balls, capitalising on loose deliveries and a batting-friendly surface enhanced by the dew.
Rodrigues fell immediately after the drinks break, but Raghvi Bist (31* off 22) stepped in to provide solid support. The duo added 44 more runs before Mandhana, looking poised for a century, fell to a slower delivery from Deandra Dottin. This, however, was a rare highlight for West Indies in an otherwise lacklustre bowling performance, with Dottin enduring an unusually expensive spell.
Richa Ghosh then took centre stage, unleashing a carnage in the final overs. Blasting five sixes and three fours, she reached her fifty in just 18 balls, equaling the fastest half-century for India in this format. Bist played a clever supporting role, ensuring Ghosh retained the strike as India soared past the 200-run mark.
Chasing 218, West Indies never looked comfortable. Qiana Joseph struck a six but was dismissed immediately after, while Hayley Matthews (22 off 17) and Deandra Dottin (25 off 17) struggled to inject momentum into the innings. As the required run rate climbed, both batters succumbed, leaving West Indies with little hope. Chinelle Henry provided late entertainment with a quickfire 43 off 16 balls, but it was too little, too late.
India’s bowling and fielding showed marked improvement from the previous match. While occasional lapses in the field persisted, the bowlers held their nerve under scoreboard pressure. Radha Yadav stood out with figures of 4-29, cleverly varying her pace to outwit the batters. The collective bowling effort ensured that West Indies never came close to mounting a serious challenge.
Match Summary:
India: 217/5 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 77, Richa Ghosh 54; Chinelle Henry 1-14)
West Indies: 157/9 in 20 overs (Chinelle Henry 43; Radha Yadav 4-29)
Result: India won by 60 runs.
This emphatic victory highlighted India’s dominance, with Mandhana’s class and Ghosh’s power perfectly complementing the team’s overall effort.