NEW DELHI: Off-spinner Deepti Sharma delivered a match-winning performance in the third and final ODI against the West Indies at Kotambi Stadium, Vadodara, becoming the first Indian woman cricketer to take two six-wicket hauls in one-day internationals. She become only the second women bowlers to achieve the feat after Sune Luus of South Africa.
Her stunning figures of 6 for 31 not only secured India’s victory but also cemented her place in the record books.
Deepti’s best bowling figures remain her 6 for 20 against Sri Lanka in Ranchi, achieved back in 2016. She is one of the elite group of Indian women to have taken six-wicket hauls in ODIs, alongside Mamatha Maben (6 for 10 against Sri Lanka in 2004) and Jhulan Goswami (6 for 31 against New Zealand in 2011).
Riding on Deepti’s brilliant spell, India bowled out the West Indies for a modest 162 in 38.5 overs. Pacer Renuka Singh Thakur provided excellent support with figures of 4 for 29.
For the visitors, Chinelle Henry (61 off 72 balls) and Shemaine Campbelle (46 off 62 balls) were the standout performers, but their contributions were not enough to salvage the innings.
India then chased down the small target with five wickets in hand in just 28.2 overs to complete the 3-0 series sweep, with Deepti Sharma remaining unbeaten on 39, off 48 balls. She top-scored for the hosts too after the bowling exploits.
India had already clinched the three-match series with emphatic wins in the first two encounters.
Deepti’s latest feat takes her career tally to 123 wickets in 98 ODIs, including three five-wicket hauls, two of which are six-wicket efforts.
