India Women defeated West Indies Women by 26 runs when the two sides squared off in a World Cup warm up game in Cardiff on Monday.
Chinelle Henry led the regional side in the absence of captain Hayley Matthews and elected to bowl after winning the toss.
India then posted a challenging 179 for eight, as Bharti Fulmali top scored with an unbeaten 56 from 40 balls, while Smriti Mandhana added 39 from 23 and Yastika Bhatia retired out on 36.
Afy Fletcher was West Indies’ best bowler, grabbing 4-23, with Karishma Ramharack, Deandra Dottin and Aaliyah Alleyne taking a wicket apiece.
In their turn at the wicket, West Indies made good progress to reach 63 without loss in the ninth over, before slumping to 102 for five in the 14th over and then being restricted to 153 for 8.
Opener Deandra Dottin smashed 49 for 44 balls with fellow opener Shemaine Campbell retiring out on 25, but the remaining West Indies batters struggled to make the best of a good start, as Shreyanka Patil took 4-36 and Radha Yadav 3-25.
Speaking after the game, Fletcher said she was happy to reap the rewards of her hard work in the buildup to the World Cup.
“It’s always good to be among the wicket takers, so I mean to see that work that has been done and to come out and just keep it simple and executing, it’s a good feeling. Then the contribution from the team was excellent work. It’s always good to be contributing to the team,” Fletcher said.
West Indies will face Australia in their final warm up game on Wednesday also in Cardiff, before playing their opening match against New Zealand on June 13.
(KH)
