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ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023: West Indies Trouble India Batters With Spin, Women In Blue Need 55 More Runs To Win From 60 Balls

India started off well striking six fours in the first 2 overs, but lost momentum after spin was introduced by West Indies captain Hayley Matthews, leaving India reeling at 64-3 at after 10 overs.

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Mandhana walks off after getting stumped by Rashada Williams on Wednesday.
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Chasing almost a run-a-ball target of 119 against the West Indies, India started off strong with Shafali Verma striking three fours in the first over off Shamilia Connell in Cape Town on Wednesday.

Shafali and Smriti Mandhana, who returned to the team after being rested in the opening match against Pakistan, feasted on the West Indian bowling with continued attacks hitting three more fours in the 2nd over.

Captain Hayley Matthews brought herself on, taking pace off the bowling, which put the brakes on scoring for the third over.

The strategy to take the pace off the ball worked in the subsequent over, as Mandhana (10) stepped out to hit Karishma Ramharack, but missed completely for Rashada Williams to complete the stumping.

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India's star from the opening match against Pakistan, Jemimah Rodrigues, failed to replicate her performance this time around, lending a caught-and-bowled wicket to Matthews for a 5-ball 1 effort.

Just when the boundaries seemed to have stopped coming, Shafali hit one over mid-on to resume the flow of runs.

The spinners continued to build pressure on India batters and Shafali (28) eventually succumbed to it, as she got caught in the deep by Afy Fletcher off Ramharack.

Stafanie Taylor was stretchered off due to an injury that looked serious and could be pulled out of the World Cup squad.

After the game resumed, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Richa Ghosh put pressure on Fletcher, striking 16 runs from her first over, powering the scoreboard to 60 off 9 overs.

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Ramharack completed her quota of four overs registering figures of 2-14. India need 55 runs from the last 10 overs.

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