Innings break India 314 for 9 (Mandhana 91, Harleen 40, Rawal 40, James 5-45) vs West Indies

India needed their two most experienced players - Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur - to once again provide substance to an innings that struggled for impetus for large parts. The result: a middling score transforming into a potential match-winning 314 for 9, 160 of which came in the last 20 overs even as Zaida James returned the best figures for a West Indies bowler against India.

Mandhana rode a slow, sluggish start to make 91, seemingly consumed in trying to shift gears, while Harmanpreet's exhibition of clean ball-striking from get-go in her 23-ball 34 set it up for Richa Ghosh and Jemimah Rodrigues to provide the finishing touches.

Ghosh, who opened in two of the three ODIs in Australia earlier this month, proved in her 13-ball 26 that her finishing prowess can be far more valuable than having her bat in the top order, even if India have been struggling for options to partner Mandhana. Rodrigues, meanwhile, left you wondering what she could achieve if given the opportunity to bat longer than the 19 balls that fetched India 31.

India's underlying issue in ODIs lately has been the inability to shed their safety-first approach, and Sunday was no different. Pratika Rawal, the debutant, opening with Mandhana struggled early on, consuming a slew of dots in the powerplay in what was a nervous start. She was also aided by plenty of luck in her opening stand of 110 with Mandhana.

Rawal made 40, but would've been out on 1 in the sixth over had West Indies reviewed a caught behind appeal off Hayley Matthews with replays confirming she flicked the glove. Shemaine Campbell implored Mathews into reviewing, only for it to be shot down. Seconds later, Mathews would watch a there snicko indicate a big spike on the giant screen.

In the eighth over, Rawal had another slice of luck, saved of a run-out courtesy a full-length dive attempting a tight run, a direct consequence of the scoreboard being stuck. Then in the 10th over, Rawal's first attempt at going big on 3 led to her slicing one to mid-off, where Afy Fletcher put down a sitter.

It needed all these early jitters for Rawal to get kicking, as she exhibited a few neat sweeps and paddles, even as Mandhana picked the pace at the other end to bring up her 28th half-century, off 62 balls, in the 21st over with a superb pull. Just as India appeared to be shifting gears, Mathews showed how to take catches by flinging herself to the left to pluck a one-handed stunner to dismiss Rawal for 40.

There was a bit of controversy soon after when Harleen Deol, slotted in at No. 3, survived an lbw shout of Aaliyah Alleyne on 1. Given out on field, Harleen reviewed reluctantly after consulting Mandhana, possibly the biggest hint that she didn't get any bat to it. Yet replays suggested a spike when ball passed bat, although the front on replays seemed to suggest a big gap between bat and ball. An outraged Mathews protested the decision reversal in vain.

Mandhana raised the tempo after getting to her half-century, a slog-sweep for six off Matthews followed by a trademark inside-out hit to bisect deep cover and long-off. Mandhana's dismissal on 91, the second time in the 90s this year, was a result of her trying to shift gears and keep the runs ticking. She was lbw attempting a cute paddle to left-arm spinner Zaida James, for whom it was merely the start of a special afternoon where she finished with a maiden five-for in ODIs.

Harleen struggled for momentum, but an intent-laden start from Harmanpreet fuelled her intent. But the flourish was all too brief as she fell for 40 in the 41st. Harmanpreet looked peerless, bringing out her trademark sweeps and brute force but her innings was cut shot on 34 when she was run out after a mix-up with Richa Ghosh while hesitating a single to short-third.

Ghosh and Rodrigues played fine cameos that helped provide India the finishing kick, while also allowing them to paper over the muddle in the middle overs, where the innings seemed to be stuck in second gear. A series of wickets in the end overs brought West Indies back into it, perhaps hoping for a Mathews special once again to fuel a chase that will need at least two batters to play out of their skins to help make a match of this.