West Indies Women vs India Women, 5th T20I, Providence: Preview, likely XIs, prediction

India Women stretched their lead in the series to 4-0 with a 5-run win in a 9-over match at Providence. West Indies did well on the field after opting to bowl: Hayley Matthews (2-0-13-3) and Afy Fletcher (2-0-2-2) restricted India to 50/7. In fact, even that had seemed distant till Pooja Vastrakar and Taniya Bhatia hit a boundary apiece towards the end. Vastrakar’s 10 was the only double-digit score of the innings.

That turned out to be good enough, for Deepti Sharma (2-0-8-1), Radha Yadav (2-0-8-1), and Anuja Patil (2-0-8-2) restricted the hosts to 45/5. The entire match witnessed 6 fours – 3 on either side – and a six by Shafali Verma.

India had rested several frontline players – Smriti Mandhana, Poonam Yadav, Shikha Pandey – for the fourth match. They may be back for the last match, for India will want to complete a 5-0 whitewash.

On the other hand, things look challenging for West Indie with every passing match. They have been crippled by Deandra Dottin’s absence for several months, and Stafanie Taylor’s injury has hurt them further. Anisa Mohammed had bowled out of her skin, but the batting has looked thin every time.

All in all, India Women are set to pull off a sweep.

Head to head

India’s 4 consecutive have taken the equation to 9-8 in their favour as well as 6-3 on West Indian soil.

Key players

Hayley Matthews (West Indies Women): With 2-0-13-3 and a 14-ball 11, Matthews was West Indies’ star in the fourth T20I. An all-round show of similar stature will help the hosts – though, of course, she will need support.

Radha Yadav (India Women): Radha stepped in magnificently in Poonam’s absence as India’s lead spinner, bowling the second as well as last overs while defending a low total. She will be crucial yet again.

Likely XIs

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

India Women: Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Veda Krishnamurthy, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Deepti Sharma, Pooja Vastrakar, Harleen Deol, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Anuja Patil, Radha Yadav, Mansi Joshi.

Prediction

India Women to pull off a 5-0 sweep.