India’s skipper Harmanpreet Kaur took center stage with a stunning catch during the 11th over of the IND W vs WI W 1st ODI, displaying exceptional athleticism and grit despite nursing a knee injury.
The jaw-dropping moment came when Renuka Singh Thakur bowled a sharp length delivery to West Indies batter Aaliyah Alleyne. Misjudging the ball, Alleyne played an awkward shot, sending it high into the air.
Harmanpreet, stationed at mid-off, sprinted backward, judged the trajectory perfectly, and leapt into the air, plucking the ball with both hands mid-dive.
India dominate over West Indies
Earlier in the day, West Indies won the toss and opted to field. India’s openers Smriti Mandhana and debutant Pratika Rawal laid a solid foundation with a 100-run opening partnership. Mandhana dazzled with a fluent 91, narrowly missing her century, while Rawal contributed a valuable 40 runs.
Key contributions from Harmanpreet Kaur (34), Richa Ghosh (26), and Jemimah Rodrigues (31) propelled India to an imposing total of 314/9 in 50 overs.
Under pressure, the West Indies lost their first wicket on the very first ball. Renuka Singh Thakur delivered a career-best performance, claiming five wickets and dismantling the opposition's batting lineup. Titas Sadhu and Priya Mishra each took two wickets, while the West Indies managed to secure one wicket each from their bowlers. By the end of the 20th over, the West Indies were all out for just 103 runs, resulting in India’s commanding victory by 211 runs.
With this impressive performance, India took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, continuing their winning momentum from the T20I series.