We were at par until Merissa Aguilleira's run out: Anisa Mohammed

Anisa Mohammed, the West Indies off spinner, reckoned the run out of wicketkeeper-batter Merissa Aguilleira was the turning point of the game after West Indies Women lost the third and final One-Day International (ODI) to India Women by 15 runs to concede the series 3-0 at Mulapadu near Vijayawada on Wednesday (November 16).

"I thought we were chasing well at four runs per over," Anisa said, assessing her team's batting in the final game, after the last-over loss. "Our batters played really well until we got that run out (of Aguilleira), that was a little unfortunate. I guess that is something we are going to have to look at," she added.

Chasing 200 in their quest for a consolation win in the three-match series that would've sealed their direct qualification to the 2017 ICC Women's World Cup, the visitors suffered a dramatic collapse in the final five overs. Cruising at 166 for 4, West Indies' lower order fell like a pack of cards after Aguilleira was sent back on 22. Setting out for a risky single, the West Indies veteran made a futile attempt to return to the crease after being sent back by her partner Kycia Knight.

Deepti Sharma put in a timely dive to intercept the shot at cover and sent down a sharp throw to the wicketkeeper Sushma Verma, who did the rest. Having bagged the key wicket at a crucial juncture of the game, India cleaned up the tail for another 18 runs, helped by Rajeshwari Gayakwad's three-wicket spell at the death and two more run outs.

"At the beginning of the series - the first two games - our batters didn't capitalise on a batting track. Bowlers were put under some pressure trying to defend under three runs per over. But in our last game, today, I thought that we were chasing well (until the run out)," the 101-match veteran assessed.

West Indies have often been found inept in the one-day format, their biggest challenge being pacing their innings over the course of 50 overs. Electing to bat first on a virgin surface in the series opener, the visitors folded for a measly 131 inside 43 overs. While their batters managed to slightly improve their game in the following match, their inability to rotate the strike as often as they would have liked meant the opportunity to post an imposing target was lost despite Deandra Dottin's 63.

Asked if 200 proved too much for an under-fire batting line-up, Anisa defended her batters stating that the top order kept them in the reckoning until the momentary lapse in judgement undid all the hard work. "No, I don't think so. Going at four runs an over is something we would have looked at (while) chasing. The boundaries are pretty short (and) the outfield is quick. We just had to wait for bad balls. Like I said, we were at par until that run out came along," she noted.

"These are new pitches, we're the first team to play here. We are getting accustomed; a little too late, but we are getting enough signs of getting accustomed to the pitches, So hopefully, we'll do better in the T20s."

Under cloudy skies, West Indies bowlers had their first shot at testing the Indian top-order with some help from the wicket that had retained moisture due to the light showers on the eve of the game. And they sure didn't disappoint. Deandra Dottin, opening the bowling in the absence of Tremayne Smartt, and welcomed every new batter on strike with a bunch of short deliveries before resorting to toe-crushers.

Shakera Selman, whose first spell reads 6-2-5-0, had a couple of close-in fielders deployed throughout the morning session. And it paid off, with the visitors keeping India to just 29 for 1 from their first 10 overs. Mithali Raj, the Indian captain, fell to a similar ploy soon after, with Anisa herself taking the catch off Chedean Nation's bowling.

Anisa conceded that given the form of India's batters and the surface that would only ease out as the day progressed, West Indies' best chance at creating pressure was by making early breakthroughs. "We tried to take early wickets. We knew the Indians, once they stay there, they are going to stick around and score (lot of) runs. Especially, Mithali and Veda (Krishnamurthy), who played a really good knock today as well, Harmanpreet (Kaur).. so we were trying to get (early) wickets and put pressure on them," she revealed.

Anisa also hoped that the change of format, as the two teams play the first of the three Twenty20 Internationals on Friday, will bring back luck for the reigning World champions in the shortest format. "We've just won the T20 World Cup, so not really," she said when asked if there would be pressure to get off the mark in the format they certainly enjoy an upper hand in. "When it comes to T20, our confidence is really high. We are going to just go out there and have fun," she concluded on a positive note.