Shafali, Deepti power Indian women to 10-wicket win over West Indies
Gros Islet (St Lucia): Teenager Shafali Verma scored her second consecutive half century after off-spinner Deepti Sharma starred with the ball as the Indian women's cricket team registered an emphatic 10-wicket win over the West Indies in the second T20 International here.
The 15-year-old Shafali continued her impressive run by scoring a quick-fire 69 off 35 balls alongside Smriti Mandhana (30). The duo powered India to a 2-0 lead in the five-match series on Sunday night.
Shafali, who overtook the iconic Sachin Tendulkar to become the youngest Indian cricketer to score a half-century in international cricket, displayed scintillating form yet again and smashed 10 fours and two sixes.
Earlier, the Indian bowlers, led by Deepti, who registered career-best figures of 4 for 10, managed to restrict the West Indies for a paltry 103 for seven in the stipulated 20 overs.
Opting to bat, the West Indies openers struggled to get going. Pacer Shikha Pandey drew first blood for India when she dismissed Stacy-Ann King (7) in the fourth over.
Wicketkeeper Shemaine Campbelle soon followed after Radha Yadav (1/20) had her stumped for a duck.
Opener Hayley Mathews (23) and Chedean Nations (32) tried to resurrect the West Indies innings but could only manage a 32-run stand as pacer Pooja Vastrakar(1/23) dimissed the former.
However, the West Indies were unable to get any kind of momentum going as wickets kept tumbling. Deepti accounted for the four wickets in the last four overs.
Later Mandhana, who had also smashed a half-century in the series-opener, played second fiddle to Shafali in guiding the team home. The 23-year-old's innings was laced with four boundaries.
West Indies captain Anisa Mohammed had no answer to the Indian duo and used seven bowlers, including herself, with no success. The combined effort saw India reach their target in 10.3 overs. The third T20I will be played at Providence Stadium in Guyana on November 14.
Brief scores: West Indies 103/7 in 20 overs (Chedean Nation 32, Hayley Matthews 23; Deepti Sharma 4-10) lost to India 104/0 in 10.3 overs (Shafali Verma 69 not out, Smriti Mandhana 30 out) by 10 wickets.
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Ludhiana West AAP MLA dies in 'accidental firing' from own pistol: Police
Ludhiana, Jan 11: Aam Aadmi Party leader and Ludhiana West MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi has died of gunshot injuries, with police saying on Saturday it could be a case of "accidental fire" from his own licensed pistol.
Joint Commissioner of Police Jaskaran Singh Teja said the bullet pierced Gogi's temple and he was rushed to the local Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), where doctors declared him dead.
The incident occurred around 11:30 pm at Gogi's house. Teja said the bullet was fired from Gogi's licensed pistol.
"According to his family members, it was an accidental fire," the JCP said.
The police said the body has been kept at the mortuary of DMCH. The case is under investigation and a post-mortem will be conducted to know more details.
Several political leaders expressed shock over Gogi's death. They are reaching his residence in Ludhiana to express condolences.
"My deepest condolences to the grieving family during this difficult time. May they find the strength to endure this painful loss. I pray to the Almighty that his noble soul rests in eternal peace," Punjab AAP president Aman Arora said in a post on X.
Hours before his death, Gogi held a meeting with Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and AAP MP Balbir Singh Seechewal over the issue of cleaning of 'Budha Nalla'.
Gogi joined the AAP after quitting the Congress in 2022. He defeated two-time MLA Bharat Bhushan Ashu in the state assembly poll that year from the Ludhiana West seat.
His wife Sukhchain Kaur Gogi unsuccessfully contested the municipal corporation elections last month.
