West Indies Women vs India Women, 3rd T20I, Providence: Preview, predictions, likely XIs

If the win in the first T20I was easy for India Women, it was nothing compared to how they won the second. Up against a target of 104, young Shafali Verma came out all guns blazing. Verma (69 not out in 35 balls) was so brutal on the West Indies Women bowlers that Smriti Mandhana, no less, almost paled in comparison (30* in 28). India Women won by 10 wickets with more than 9 overs in hand.

Earlier in the day, the bowlers did a terrific job to restrict West Indies to 103/7. Deepti Sharma (4-0-10-4) seemed to have eased into the opening bowler’s slot ever since India have decided to use Pooja Vastrakar with the old ball. West Indies never managed to break the shackles against a unit that bowled like a well-oiled machine.

Jemimah Rodrigues is perhaps the only Indian who may have a complaint or two. India have been so prolific in the series that Rodrigues, an opener in the format until recently, is yet to get a chance to bat!

The West Indians have too much to catch up. So far they have had no answer to the onslaught of Verma and Mandhana, who have added 246 for two opening stands (one of them unbroken), off just 156 balls.

Anisa Mohammed, fighter of many a battle, has emerged with her head high on both occasions (6-0-49-2 in the series), but really, she has been the only one.

The batters, too, have not really stood up against the immaculate Indian attack. There has been no individual score in excess of 35 as the hosts managed only 101/9 and 103/7.

In short, the series has been so one-sided that it would take something near-miraculous for West Indies to pull one back here.

Head to head

Despite facing a series defeat, West Indies have still managed to cling on hold to an 8-7 lead. However, India lead 4-3 on West Indies soil.

Key players

Chedean Nation (West Indies Women): Back to the national side following an injury, Nation had impressed with 43 in the first ODI. She also top-scored with 32 in the second T20I, and is perhaps West Indies’ best bet in the third.

Jemimah Rodrigues (India Women): Sitting padded up in the pavilion is unlikely to have gone down well with young Rodrigues. She is almost certainly awaiting her chance to go out in the middle and emulate Verma and Mandhana.

Likely XIs

West Indies Women: Hayley Matthews, Stacy-Ann King, Shemaine Campbelle (wk), Chedean Nation, Natasha McLean, Chinelle Henry, Kyshona Knight, Sheneta Grimmond, Aaliyah Alleyne, Afy Fletcher, Anisa Mohammed (c).

India Women: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Deepti Sharma, Veda Krishnamurthy, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Pooja Vastrakar, Shikha Pandey, Poonam Yadav, Radha Yadav.

Prediction

India Women to take an unassailable 3-0 lead.