India claimed the series victory during the third ODI in Antigua on Wednesday. Chasing 195, the team relied on a match-winning 141-run opening stand from Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues, with Mandhana topping the charts with 74 runs upon her return to the ODI lineup.
With a 2-1 series win over the West Indies this Wednesday, the Indian women's team strengthened its hold on third place in the 2017-20 ICC Women’s Championships. The series concluded at Antigua's Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, where India comfortably reached the 195-run target to seal the victory.
Smriti Mandhana was the center of attention as she made a triumphant return from a toe injury, scoring 74 runs off 63 balls. The injury had previously kept her out of the home matches against South Africa and the opening two ODIs of this series, but she looked perfectly sharp and in control on Wednesday.
Mandhana's dominant performance, including nine boundaries and three sixes, put the West Indies bowlers on the back foot and simplified the run chase. Jemimah Rodrigues also played a key role, scoring 69 off 92 balls during their 141-run opening partnership. While both openers eventually fell in quick succession, Punam Raut and captain Mithali Raj provided the necessary support with steady knocks to guide India to the win.
Earlier in the match, the Indian bowling attack worked in unison to limit the West Indies to 194. Jhulan Goswami and Poonam Yadav were the standout performers with two wickets each, while Shikha Pandey, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, and Deepti Sharma each claimed one. Although West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor fought hard for 79 runs off 112 balls, a lack of support from her batting partners prevented a truly competitive total. On the other side, Hayley Matthews made a notable return from her ban, taking three wickets.
After a heartbreaking 1-run loss in the first ODI on November 1st, Mithali Raj's side showed great resilience to turn the series around. The two teams are now set to face off in five T20Is across St Lucia and Guyana from November 9th to 20th. Cricket West Indies has already announced a 14-member squad for these matches, with Stafanie Taylor continuing to lead her team against India.