A four-wicket haul by Rajeshwari Gayakwad and an unbeaten half-century from Veda Krishnamurthy helped India defeat West Indies to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series at Vijayawada.
India were in a spot of bother, struggling at 36/4 during their chase of 132, when Krishnamurthy joined captain Mithali Raj in the middle. The duo went on to notch up an unbeaten 97-run stand for the fifth wicket as India won by six wickets.
Earlier in the day, West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor had won the toss and elected to bat first. It was a decision that Taylor will now regret as the Indian spinners came to the party in grand style.
Gayakwad and fellow left-arm orthodox spinner Ekta Bisht took seven wickets between them as the visitors were bowled out for 131. Wicket-keeper Merissa Aguilleira was the only saving grace for the West Indian women, scoring an unbeaten 42.
A good start to the series by India women @BCCIdomestic winning the 1st ODI against @windieswomen #INDvWI @paytm. Well done girls!
— Anjum Chopra (@chopraanjum) November 10, 2016
In reply, the hosts’ top order faltered and it looked like the West Indies – who won the Women’s World T20 earlier this year – were favourites, but it wasn’t to be as Raj and Krishnamurthy saw India home. Raj and Krishnamurthy were unbeaten on 46 and 52 respectively as they led their team to victory.
The second ODI of the series is scheduled for November 10, 2016 and will take place at the same venue.
BRIEF SCORES
West Indies 131 all out (Aguilleira 42*, Gayakwad 4/21) lost to India 133/4 (Krishnamurthy 52*, Selman 2/11) by six wickets.
