WI slide to ninth successive T20I defeat

EAST LONDON, South Africa (CMC):

Injury-riddled West Indies Women slumped to an eight-wicket loss to India Women in their final game of the Twenty20 International Tri-Series to extend their depressing losing streak to nine games here yesterday.

In an all-too-familiar tale, West Indies Women's batsmen once again failed to shine and could only muster a meagre 94 for six from their 20 overs after being sent in at Buffalo Park.

And opener Jemimah Rodrigues then struck an unbeaten 42 from 39 balls while Harmanpreet Kaur carved out 32 not out off 23 deliveries, with India Women coasting to their target with 37 balls to spare.

For West Indies Women, the defeat was their fourth in as many matches in the tournament, coming on the back of their 5-0 series whitewash to England Women in the Caribbean in December.

"It was a bit difficult for the team results-wise, but at the same time, we understand what we're going through at the moment," said West Indies Women captain Hayley Matthews.

"We still have a lot of senior players injured. It was really good to have Aliyah Alleyne back today, but obviously, the absence of Chinelle Henry and Stafanie Taylor plays a massive role when it comes to our batting line-up."

Due to their injury crisis, West Indies Women handed debuts to the Under-19 World Cup pair of Jannillea Glasgow and Zaida James and also included Djenaba Joseph and Trishan Holder, who also participated in the recent ICC showpiece here but who made their international debuts last year.

Rashada Williams, with eight runs, and Shemaine Campbelle with a 'duck', were early casualties - both bowled by Player-of-the-Match off-spinner Deepti Sharma with successive deliveries in the fourth over. Sharma picked up three wickets for 11 runs.

Matthews, who top-scored with a run-a-ball 34 with five fours, added 21 for the third wicket with Joseph, who made three, before perishing to a catch at the wicket off seamer Pooja Vastrakar in the 12th over. Vastrakar captured two for 19.

The left-handed James, with two fifties in the Under-19 World Cup, punched 21 not out from 31 deliveries with a couple of sixes, helping to add 21 for the sixth wicket with Alleyne, who made nine and get West Indies past 90.

Defending their small total, West Indies Women struck early when fast bowler Shamilia Connell bowled Smriti Mandhana for five in the second over with eight runs on the board.

However, Rodrigues led India Women's recovery, first in a 33-run, second-wicket stand with Harleen Deol, who made 13, and then in an unbroken 54-run, third-wicket partnership with Kaur.