Rodrigues, Mandhana set up India's comfortable win

India kicked off the T20I series against West Indies with a comprehensive 49-run win in the first match in Navi Mumbai. Riding on half-centuries from Smriti Mandhana (54 off 33) and Jemimah Rodrigues (73 off 25), India were able to post a massive 195/4. Hayley Matthews admitted at the post-match presentation ceremony that the total was "15-20 runs too many". West Indies managed only 146/7 in their run-chase.

Deandra Dottin hit 4 fours and 3 sixes in her 28-ball 52, keeping West Indies in the hunt. She added 44 runs for the third wicket with Qiana Joseph (49 off 33). Titas Sadhu ended Dottin's innings with a catch at long-on.

Once Dottin was out, India tightened the screws with the help of its spinners and crafted what felt like an easy victory towards the end.

West Indies's effort in the field earlier in the day was sloppy, with the visitors dropping three catches. But it all started with conceding a 50-run opening stand, that saw Uma Chetry play the aggressor early on and Mandhana admirably catch up later.

After Uma was bowled by Karishma Ramharack, Mandhana and Rodrigues went on to add 81 runs in only 7.2 overs. Rodrigues went on to make her 12th T20I fifty, getting to the milestone off just 28 balls.

Mandhana fell in the 14th over, holing out to cover but Richa Ghosh walked in and finished with a cameo of 20 off 14. Rodrigues meanwhile also kept at it, helping India add 56 in the final five overs. She stayed right until the penultimate ball of the innings, where she was run out.

Brief Scores: India 195/4 (Rodrigues 73, Mandhana 54; Ramharack 2-18) beat West Indies 146/7 (Dottin 52, Joseph 49; Sadhu 3-37) by 49 runs