India completed a dominant series sweep over the West Indies on Friday, winning the women’s third and final ODI by five wickets, finishing the series with a clean 3-0 victory. Deepti Sharma shone brightly, producing her career-best bowling figures of 6 for 31 with the ball and contributing 39 runs with the bat as India chased down 162 runs with relative ease.
Renuka Thakur also played a pivotal role, taking 4 wickets for 29 runs. She made early breakthroughs, removing both West Indies openers without scoring, alongside taking down Deandra Dottin, which set the tone for the Indian bowlers. Thanks to Renuka, the West Indies were soon struggling at 9 for 3 within the first five overs.
Despite their poor start, the West Indies middle order exhibited resilience; Chinelle Henry highlighted this with her gritty 61 runs, forming a strong partnership with Shemaine Campbelle, who chipped in with 46 runs as they shared 91 runs for the fourth wicket. The Indian bowlers, led by Deepti Sharma, regrouped effectively, grabbing the last five wickets for just 21 runs, ending the West Indies innings at 162 all out within 38.5 overs.
When it came to India’s chase of 162, drama unfolded as early wickets fell, including star batter Smriti Mandhana and Harleen Deol, dismissed cheaply. But Harmanpreet Kaur’s aggressive 32 off 22 balls steadying the ship gave India the momentum they needed. A significant contribution came from Deepti and Jemimah Rodrigues, who added 56 runs for the fifth wicket, which pushed India closer to the target.
With contributions from Richa Ghosh, who played explosively and finished off the game with 23 not out from just 11 balls, including two sixes off Afy Fletcher, India crossed the line comfortably, achieving the target in just 28.2 overs.
Deepti Sharma expressed her enthusiasm for crunch situations, stating, "I like challenges as those are the moments when you can step up and deliver for your team. Crunch situations don’t come too often, so when I am in the phase, I always enjoy being there. I back my all-round skills to handle those situations." Her commitment to teamwork is clear, as she mentioned the importance of communication and bonding among teammates during challenging times.
Reflecting on her performance, Deepti remarked, "There was a bit of moisture in the wicket... my aim was to grab quick wickets and break their partnership..." She took pride in her wicket of Chinelle Henry, stating, "I was just waiting for my turn to contribute with the ball. The plan was to get her out as early as possible, and I’m really happy to have achieved it since it was such a key wicket."
Deepti Sharma's 6-wicket haul not only secured the match for India but also made her the first Indian player to take two six-wicket hauls in ODIs. This landmark achievement is shared with only two other players globally, making her statistic all the more impressive. Her all-round performance merited the Player of the Match award, alongside Renuka Thakur's being named Player of the Series.
India’s dominant performance throughout the series showcased their strength and potential, particularly bolstered by players like Deepti Sharma, who relished both the challenges presented and the opportunities to shine when it mattered the most.
