In a spectacular display of bowling prowess, Deepti Sharma etched her name in the record books with a career-best performance in the third and final ODI against the West Indies at Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara on December 27, 2024. The off-spinner claimed an impressive 6 wickets for 31 runs, becoming the first Indian woman cricketer to achieve two six-wicket hauls in one-day internationals. This remarkable feat places her alongside South Africa’s Sune Luus as the only female cricketer to have accomplished this milestone.
Deepti Sharma’s masterclass
West Indies, electing to bat first, struggled against the Indian bowling attack, collapsing to a modest total of 162 in just 38.5 overs. The Indian bowlers, led by Deepti and supported by Renuka Singh Thakur, who took 4 wickets for 29 runs, dominated the visitors’ lineup. Chinelle Henry (61 off 72 balls) and Shemaine Campbelle (46 off 62 balls) showed resilience with their gritty partnership, but their efforts were not enough to salvage the innings.
In the chase, India faced some early hiccups but remained in control, thanks to Deepti’s all-round brilliance. She top-scored with an unbeaten 39 off 48 balls, guiding the team to a comfortable victory in just 28.2 overs with five wickets in hand. This win sealed the series 3-0 in favour of India, showcasing their dominance over the West Indies.
– 6 wickets with ball .
– 39*(48) runs with bat.WHAT AN ICONIC PERFORMANCE BY DEEPTI SHARMA 🤯🔥 pic.twitter.com/04mUPguzXN
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 27, 2024
Deepti’s exceptional performance not only secured the series victory but also elevated her career tally to 123 wickets in 98 ODIs, including three five-wicket hauls, two of which were six-wicket efforts. Her previous best of 6 for 20 came against Sri Lanka in 2016. This series served as valuable preparation for India as they gear up to host the ODI World Cup 2025.
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