Harleen Deol churned out her maiden international century to propel India to their joint-highest total against the West Indies in the second ODI in Vadodara. It was a classy knock from the right-hand batter, who returned to action earlier this month.
Batting at No. 3, Deol smashed 115 runs from 103 balls, including 16 fours, at a strike rate of 111.65. She built on the solid start provided by India’s openers to raise her maiden hundred and power the team to 358.
Harleen Deol blasts her maiden ODI 💯 to propel India towards a massive total against the West Indies 🔥
— ICC (@ICC) December 24, 2024
📝#INDvWI: https://t.co/zoE3VnNcKn pic.twitter.com/0P1XvONW7o
Deol’s High-Quality Knock
Before Deol’s memorable outing, India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur made the right call to bat first after winning the toss. It was a great pitch to bat on, with the ball coming on to the willow nicely.
India’s in-form opener Smriti Mandhana and her new partner Pratika Rawal cashed in on the helpful condition. The opening pair provided India with a brisk start, putting up a 110-run stand in 16.3 overs.
Mandhana was the first to fall after scoring her sixth international fifty in a row. Then Deol walked in and stitched crucial partnerships with Rawal, Kaur, and Jemimah Rodrigues.
She started her knock in a composed manner, getting the singles to keep the scorecard ticking. She lost Rawal after a 62-run stand before joining hands with captain Kaur to add 43 runs.
Following the skipper’s departure on 215, Deol got solid support from Rodrigues. As the right-hand batter crossed 70, she accelerated the scoring rate by finding the boundary ropes.
On the first ball of the 47th over, Deol reached her first ODI century by fetching a four. She then embraced in an emotional moment as she lifted her bat and helmet in the air while looking up towards the sky.
She continued her attack after the century, though she perished soon on a well-made 115 on the third delivery of the 48th over. Rodrigues also completed her fifty three balls later, but she got out in a controversial way in the next over.
Richa Ghosh’s powerful shots on the last two deliveries helped India level their highest team total in women’s ODI cricket.
Hapless West Indies Bowlers
The visitor’s bowlers found themselves clueless against India’s top order yet again. First, the openers toyed with their bowling attack, bringing up a hundred-run partnership, then it was Harleen Deol show, alongside Rodrigues’ brisk knock.
The Windies captain Hayley Matthews gave the ball to eight bowlers in an attempt to restrict Indian batters. But only four of them managed a wicket each, with Afy Fletcher being the most economical among them.
Deandra Dottin, Qiana Joseph, and Zaida James were the other bowlers to get a wicket each.
