Jemima Rodrigues featured in two 70-run partnerships while Renuka Singh ran through the Barbados top-order to send India to the semi-final of the Commonwealth Games on Wednesday. India defeated Barbados by 100 runs to hand the Caribbean team their second consecutive defeat after pulling off a historic victory on international debut.
Earlier in the day, Barbados’ captain Hayley Matthews called right at the toss and elected to field first. Barbados made one change bringing in off-break bowler Shaunte Carrington for leg-spinner Keila Elliot. India’s all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar returned after recovering from a bout of COVID-19 and Taniya Bhatia replaced Yastika Bhatia in the must-win encounter for both teams.
Big names – small scores
Photo Credit: ESPNcricinfo
Medium-pacer Shanika Bruce got Barbados off to a dream start in her first over when she trapped talismanic opener Smriti Mandhana LBW for just 5. However, Jemima Rodrigues joined Shafali Verma at the crease and the pair counter-attacked, displaying an array of shots and boundaries through all areas of the ground. The pair put on a partnership of 71 runs off 46 balls before poor communication in the 9th over gifted Barbados their second wicket when Verma was run out attempting a second run. Three balls later, Shakera Selman got the huge wicket of Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur LBW for a first-ball duck, as Barbados began to rein in the Indian innings somewhat after getting two of the best batters out for a meagre total of 5. Taniya Bhatia did not trouble the scorers much as she skied a leading edge off Matthews to Deandra Dottin to depart for 6.
India’s big finish
Barbados couldn’t take wickets regularly enough to threaten India. Deepti Sharma and Rodrigues excelled at rotating the strike and flourished with a 70-run partnership which included spanking 58 runs off some indisciplined bowling in the last 5 overs of the innings. The batters ensured that India posted a competitive score of 162 for 4 after some early setbacks.
Steamrolling Singh
Barbados was off to a disastrous start as they lost their first four wickets to Renuka Singh who had been enjoying a purple patch during this tournament. She first accounted for the dangerous Dottin – bowled for duck in the third ball of Barbados’ reply. Skipper Matthews smashed two boundaries in her attempt to keep up with the required run rate, but Singh once again had the last word as Matthews was caught at mid-on in the third over. Kycia Knight and Aaliyah Alleyne were also victim to Singh in the space of three balls with Knight playing onto her stumps and Alleyne shouldering arms to be bowled. Barbados was 19 for 4 inside 5 overs. The remaining batters toiled for the next 15 overs to get as close as they could to the winning total, but only managed to get to 62 for the loss of 8 wickets at the end of their twenty overs.
This marks the end of Barbados’ campaign in their debut international tournament. Although they suffered heavy defeats by the powerful Australian and Indian teams, they would be happy to record a historic victory against Pakistan and gain valuable knowledge and experience to improve their game.
INDIA WOMEN 162/4 (20 overs)
Jemimah Rodrigues 56 (46)
Shafali Verma 43 (26)
Shakera Selman 1/20 (4 overs)
Hayley Matthews 1/29 (4 overs)
BARBADOS WOMEN 62/8 (20 overs)
Kyshona Knight 16 (20)
Shakera Selman 12* (16)
Renuka Singh 4/10 (4 overs)
Harmanpreet Kaur 1/7 (3 overs)
