The Indian cricket team beat the West Indies by 26 runs in its first Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up match in Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, on Monday.Asked to bat first, the Indian women’s cricket team rode on an unbeaten fifty by Bharti Fulmali to post 179/8 on the board. Indian spinners Shreyanka Patil and Radha Yadav then combined to pick up seven wickets between themselves to restrict the Windies to 153/8.After a rain-delayed start, India made a brisk start courtesy of stand-in skipper Smriti Mandhana, who was entrusted with captaincy duties with Harmanpreet Kaur rested, and Shafali Verma.India were cruising along at 59/0 before Aaliyah Alleyne dismissed Mandhana following a brisk 39-ball 23 in the final over of powerplay.The wicket triggered a mini collapse as Shafali Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues, too, were sent back in the next two overs, reducing India to 85/3.Yastika Bhatia and Bharti Fulmali arrested the slide and strung together a nifty 60-run stand before the former retired out.However, India lost a couple of quick wickets almost immediately before stuttering to 179/8 in their allotted 20 overs. Fulmali, in the playing XI in place of captain Harmanpreet, top-scored for India and stayed unbeaten on 56.The 39-year-old Afy Fletcher, set to be the oldest player at the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup, was the pick of the bowlers for the Windies team, bowling out her four overs for 4/23.West Indies started their chase well with Deandra Dottin and Shemaine Campbelle put on 63 for the opening wicket before Cambelle retired out for after the ninth over with her team on 63/1.Just as Windies had done, India also capitalised after the set partnership ended and picked up quick wickets.Shreyanka Patil dealt the Caribbean side a double blow in the 11th over, sending back Qiana Joseph and Jahzara Claxton before Radha Yadav did one better in the 13th.The left-arm spinner first sent back Dottin - one short of her fifty - before cleaning up Aaliyah Alleyne and Chinelle Henry to leave the West Indies reeling at 103/6.Shreyanka Patil, bowling right-arm spin, also added two more wickets to her tally to finish with 4/36 as West Indies concluded their chase 26 runs short.Jannillea Glasgow and Shawnisha Hector offered some late resistance to bring West Indies closer to the target.The Indian women's cricket team will next face hosts England in its next T20 World Cup warm-up fixture on Wednesday. Live cricket scores will be available on Olympics.com.India kick off their Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan at Edgbaston on June 14.
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