Women’s World Cup as it happened: India trounce West Indies by 7 wickets

India continued their good form at the ICC Women’s World Cup with a second straight victory. Mithali Raj and Co beat West Indies by seven wickets on Thursday at Taunton. The player of the match, unsurprisingly, was Smriti Mandhana who scored an unbeaten 106 as the opener carried her bat through the match. After her 90 in the first match against England, the 20-year-old became the youngest Indian to score a century in the World Cup. Here’s how the match panned out.

Live updates:

India win by 7 wickets! Centurion Smriti Mandhana gets the winning runs with another four as India wrap up their second win in as many games at the World Cup with ease. Skipper Raj, who scored 46, is all smiles as India keep the momentum going.

Century for Smriti Mandhana: A brilliant innings from the opener as she brings up her hundred with a classy drive to the boundary – the perfectly timed shot to reach the three-figure mark. Her ton comes off 106 balls studded with 12 boundaries and two huge sixes. This is her second ODI hundred and first in the World Cup. The batter missed it in the last game after being dismissed on 90, but she doesn’t this time despite the small total.

End of over 40, India 170/3: With only 14 runs needed, Mandhana continues her rich vein of form as she reaches 95, five short of what would it be well-deserved 100. Mona Meshram is giving her company with 13 off 23.
Meanwhile, Mandhana suffered from cramps and the physio had to come out to have a look at her, but she feels well enough to cream a sharp boundary off her legs to move into the 90s soon after. On 94, she played a lofted shot that went to the fielder, but was dropped at the boundary to give her another life on crease.

Wicket, India 141/3: Mithali Raj falls agonisingly short of her record eight consecutive ODI fifty as she departs for 46 off 88. A relatively tame dismissal after a solid innings, she chips straight to Afy Fletcher at mid-on off Hayley Matthew’s bowling. West Indies finally get a breakthrough but with India needing only 43 runs to win, it might be too little, too late. Mona Meshram is the new batter in for India.

End of Over 30, India 123/2: Partnership of 90 between Smriti Mandhana and Mithali Raj. West Indies have tried every trick in the book, regularly shuffling their bowlers but the Indian pair are going steady with With periodic boundaries and comfortable running between the wickets. With a required rate of just over three, India can afford to continue at this languid pace, but it is the Windies who really need a miracle breakthrough if they harbour any hopes of a victory.

Fifty for Smriti Mandhana: She brings up her fifty off 57 balls, her seventh in ODIS and second consecutive one this World Cup. Other than this milestone, the last few overs have seen all about the steady batting and comfortable partnership between Mandhana and Raj, as each showcase their depth. Deandra Dottin brought back into the attack, Taylor changes ends but the two set Indian batters look unfazed.

End of Over 20, India 74/2: Change of bowling for West Indies as Anisa Mohammed and Afy Fletcher came into the attack as West Indies hunted for wickets. But Mandhana and Raj consolidate with a solid partnership which is currently worth 41 runs. All they need to do is keep finding the gaps as Raj did with a sublime drive in the 18th over, to keep the scoreboard ticking.

End of over 15, India 56/2: The West Indian duo of Taylor and Daley have pegged back the Indian scoring rate since the Powerplay. Mandhana finally broke free and swept for a boundary in the 15th over. India have scored only 14 runs in the last five overs, crossing the 50-over mark. But with a relatively low asking rate, it shouldn’t be a problem as long as wickets do not fall regularly.

End of over 10, India 42/2: The Powerplay overs saw India score at a steady pace, thanks to the swashbuckling Smriti Mandhana who is still scoring at a strike rate of over 100. But worryingly, they have also lost two early wickets, which would have given West Indies the lifeline they need to pull this back. It will be up to the experienced captain Mithali Raj and the big-hitting Mandhana to stitch together a partnership and stay on crease to keep the chase alive.

Wicket, India 33/2: Stefanie Taylor’s move to introduces herself into the attack pays off as she gets the wicket of Deepti Sharma, who is clean bowled after a painstaking 3 off 22 balls. It’s captain Mithali Raj who walks in next, at a time India need her to build on.

End of over 5, India 26/1: West Indies have struck early with the wicket of Punam Raut in the first over. Raut tried to pull Shamila Connell but gloved behind. Smriti Mandhana, however, will be the key wicket and she’s already hit a beautiful off-drive for four and taken another 10 in another over.

Here’s the Mithali Raj watch camera for the day:

End of the innings, West Indies 183/8: This is a good total by the Windies, after being almost on the mat for 121/7. First Chedean Nation, then Shanel Daley and Afy Flecther have put up a commendable rear guard action to take them to a fighting score. Fletcher and Anisa Mohammed scored 37 runs in the last five overs for a attacking partnership that was probably the best stand of the innings. In fact, Fletcher was the second highest scorer with a strong 36 off only 23 balls – with the highest strike rate of the Windies innings. Her three plucky boundaries in the last over by Harmanpreet Kaur gave them the right kind of momentum to end their innings on a very positive note.
Can they carry on this last-over momentum to the bowling when India come out to chase? India to chase 184 for victory.

Wicket, West Indies 146/8: Shanel Delay departs after a crucial 37-ball 33. Another stumping by Sushma Verma – her third of the match – as Deepti Sharma gets her second wicket. Daley tried to come forward to take the ball early but missed her line completely. The rear guard partnership of 25 is broken.

End of Over 45, West Indies 146/7: Daley builds on with Afy Fletcher despite the loss of the seventh wicket, taking on the bad balls, finding the gaps and adding valuable runs. Together they have put on a stand of 25 in the last five overs, giving the Windies target some impetus. At one point, both had strike rates off 100 – something the other West Indian batters couldn’t manage. Shanel Daley has been very impressive in her cameo so far, with five boundaries in her 33 so far.

Wicket, West Indies 121/7: West Indies lose Nation just as she was starting to look good. Another wicket for Harmanpreet and another smart stumping from Sushma Verma as Nation walks back on 12 off 21.

End of Over 40, West Indies 121/7: The Windies seem to be getting their feet back in the game again. The 38th over by Deepti Sharma went for 10 runs as nation struck two boundaries to inject some momentum in their batting. Good hitting from Nation as well, a hit down the ground followed by a sweep. Daley gets into the act as well, bisecting the gap for a boundary off Kaur. West Indies have scored off 27 runs the last five overs – a welcome change of pace for them.

End of over 36, West Indies 102/6: West Indies take the Powerplay and Jhulan Goswami is back in the attack. The change seems to have revived the batters who get their first boundary in over 20 overs. Chedean Nation and Shanel Daley on crease, and the onus will be on them to take Windies to a decent position by making the most of the field restrictions.

Wicket, West Indies 91/6: Sixth wicket falls for West Indies. Harmanpreet Kaur among the wickets as she gets Kyshona Knight for a 20-ball 5. She doesn’t quite get the shot right and holes it straight to Mandhana at mid-on.

Wicket, West Indies 91/5: Poonam Yadav strikes again. Deandra Dottin is the player dismissed for only 7 off 48. The pressure seems to have gotten to the Windies star as she tries to take the aerial route but doesn’t quite get the distance and it goes straight to Punam Raut at long-on. It’s really going downhill for West Indies, half their team is back in the hut.

End of over 31, West Indies 86/4: Still very slow going for West Indies. They just haven’t been able to get India’s spinners away. Dottin is 7 off 44, a poor return for a player of her calibre, showing just how effective India have been.

More good news for India as Harmanpreet Kaur is back on the field and is given the ball right away.

Wicket, West Indies 80/4: Merissa Aguilleira stumped by Sushma Verma on 6 off 18 balls. Poonam Yadav outfoxes the batter, who comes forward and misses the ball. Windies are really struggling here as Indian spinners tighten their grip.

End of over 25, West Indies 77/3: India are well and truly on top here, having all but halted the Windies scoring. In fact the run rate has been a measly 1.40 in the last five overs, with only seven runs being scored. Spinners Bisht and Yadav keeping the pressure on West Indies.

Wicket, West Indies 70/3: A brilliant run out to dismiss Stefanie Taylor. Dottin and Taylor attempt a quick single but Smriti Mandhana is sharp in the field and a direct hits gets the captain out on 16 off 42 balls. Both set batters dismissed as India grab the momentum. Merissa Aguilleira is in next.

India’s fielding has been excellent in the fast two games. Credit to new fielding coach Biju George?

Wicket, West Indies 69/2: Hayley Matthews gone after a steady 43 off 57. Deepti Sharma is rewarded for her tight bowling with a simple caught and bowled dismissal. Matthews is distraught after the tame end, as she was the batter looking to be in good touch. Deandra Dottin, who is also playing her 100th ODI, is the new batter on crease.

Sharma continues with her miserly spell, changing ends. She is joined by legspinner Poonam Yadav who gave away in her only two runs first over. Together, the two spinners are doing a great job of drying up the runs. For West Indies, Matthews has been steadily consolidating, but they will need a more attacking approach here.

Update: Harmanpreet Kaur has a dislocated finger. She is sitting my the boundary, and might not be on field for a while. However, whether she will come out to bat remains to be seen.

End of over 15, West Indies 62/1:India introduce spin from both ends in the 12th over as Deepti Sharma replaces Goswmai. Interestingly, Mona Meshram comes into the attack from the end Bisht was bowling, replacing the left-arm spinner after an excellent spell of three overs giving away three runs and capturing the first wicket.

End of over 10, West Indies 43/1: Goswami changed ends, replacing Pandey in the eight over. Eight runs come off her over as Taylor settles in and Matthews continues accelerating. However, Bisht is holding up her end well, giving away only one run in her over. Goswami bowls the last over of the Powerplay. Meanwhile, Matthews attempts to make most of the last few balls with the field restrictions, playing a risky lofted shot that fetches her four more run. West Indies 43/1 at the end of the Powerplay.

Wicket! West Indies 29/1: Left arm spinner Ekta Bisht brought in first change and the gets the breakthrough off her first ball. Walters (9 off 18) edges a flighted delivery straight behind a keeper Sushma Verma holds on to give India the first wicket. Captain Stafanie Taylor, playing her 100th ODI, is in next. It’s also a wicket maiden for Bisht.

Matthews got into the groove in the sixth over with a classy drive in the sixth over, followed by a another crisp shot down the ground. Harmanpreet Kaur dived full length to try and stop the second boundary and injured herself. She had to leave the field early in the West Indies innings.

End of over 5, West Indies 20/1: Indian bowlers start on a confident note giving away only 20 runs in the first five overs. The new ball pair got early movement from the pitch and troubled the West Indies’ openers Hayley Matthews and Felicia Walters.

Veteran Jhulan Goswami started the new ball and bowled a sharp first over, giving away only two runs. Her partner Shikha Pandey, exploited the swing she was getting early on and bowled five dot ball, giving away only one run on the last delivery.

The first boundary of the match came in Goswami’s second over as Felicia Walters edged it past slips on the penultimate ball to take six runs off that over. However Pandey came in and tightened the screws back on the innings, giving away only three. The fifth over went for eight runs, with Matthews going for her shots and creaming two fours.

It was just the kind of start Raj would have wanted after electing to field first.

West Indies’ stars Stafanie Taylor and Deandra Dottin are playing their 100th ODI today. What a career the two of them have had!

Here are the playing XIs

2.33 pm: The news from the centre is that India have won the toss and will field first.

2.30 pm: The architect of India’s splendid win on England were their batters. Smriti Mandhana set the tournament on fire with a sizzling 72-ball 90, Punam Raut scored a steady 86, the captain was at her best in an almost run-a-ball 71 while Harmanpreet Kaur finished it off with a 22-ball 24.

In contrast, West Indies’s problems started right at the toss when they weren’t sure what they wanted to do. It was a theme that carried on throughout the match.