In the third and final match of the ongoing India Women vs England Women 2019 ICC Championship, the visitors overhauled the target of 206 for the loss of eight wickets with seven balls to spare in Mumbai on Thursday (February 28). English players held their nerves to settle with the scoreline of 2-1 in Women in Blue’s favour. With the game going down the wire, it was Jhulan Goswami, who delivered by picking three wickets for India.
On the bowling of Poonam Yadav when visiting side required two off eight deliveries, Anya Shrubsole won the dead-rubber for England by smashing the ball through square leg region for a four.
Anya remained not on four of a solitary delivery, whereas, Georgia Elwiss played a major role to post unbeaten 53-ball unbeaten 33. Owing to such cameos, visitors avoided a white-wash in the day-long format.
Player of the match:
Katherine Brunt has bowler her heart out under the sweltering sun in Mumbai. The bowling all-rounder conceded just 28 runs in her quota of 10 overs to bag a five-wicket haul.
The medium-pacer kept things tight while eking out wickets at regular intervals for the English team.
Interestingly, Katherine further faced 20 balls for her 18 crucial runs for England in the tricky run chase.
“It’s been a tough tour up until now, India have played brilliantly. We have shown a lot of character and resilience. We have got a lot to be proud of. And we saw in the first game there was a bit of nip, so I have worked on using the seam. Hopefully, I can go forward and do well for the team,” Katherine said during the series wrap.
Furthermore, Smriti Mandhana has been awarded player of the series for her resilient show.
Turning Point of the Match:
The partnership of 69 for the sixth wicket between skipper Heather Knight and Danielle Wyatt proved to be quintessential for the visitors. At one stage, the England team was reeling at 49 for five in 15 overs.
Heather alongside Danielle upped the ante to take England out of a precarious situation. However, it followed with a vital 56-run stand between Danielle and Georgia to take a visiting side closer to the target.
Heather shouldered the responsibility to smash 63-ball 47 to play her part in a consolation win.
2nd innings England women
In a bid to chase the target off 209, England had somewhat a cautious start as they post 25 on the board. Amy Ellen Jones was the first to return to the pavilion.
Amy scored 15-ball 13 with the help of three fours when she was caught by Smriti Mandhana on the bowling of Goswami.
Furthermore, Goswami removed Lauren Winfield 2 (11) and opening batswoman Tammy Beaumont 21 (32).
So much so, England lost half of their side in first 15 overs at the score of 49. Shikha Pandya trapped the wicketkeeper-batter Sarah Taylor, who consumed 12 deliveries for two runs; Deepti Shamara caught and bowled Natalie Sciver on one.
Leading from the front Heather steadied England’s ship by putting up a crucial partnership alongside Danielle. Also, Georgia put up a grand show by hitting an odd-boundaries.
However, Katherine contributes at the fag end of the innings, before Anya finished off things alongside Georgia for England to win the game of two wickets.
1st innings India women:
Earlier, India has a dismal start to the innings when the hosts lost the first wicket in the form of Jemimah Rodrigues on the very second ball of the third and final ODI.
However, Mandhana alongside Punam Raut smashed a fifty each to record 129 partnership for the second wicket.
Well, the batting collapse saw England made a strong comeback. While adding 16 runs, India lost six wickets.
In between, Katherine has removed the cream of Indian batting department by picking first five batters.
Skipper Mithali Raj managed to score seven off 12 balls, whereas, Mona Meshram and Taniya Bhatia returned without scoring. Goswami faced 11 balls for a run as Poonam remained not out on three.
Deepti Sharma remained unbeaten on 27 off 49 balls. On the other side, Shikha Pandey scored crucial 26 off 41 balls as India went past the 200-run mark.
So, with the culmination of ODI series, the three-match Twenty20 International series will begin from March 4 with the first T20I at Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.
Have a look at the brief score:
England Women: 208 for 8 in 48.5 overs; Danielle Wyatt 56 (82), Heather Knight 47 (63) – Katherine Brunt five for 28.
India Women: 205 for 8 in 50 overs; Smriti Mandhana 66 (74), Punam Raut 56 (97) – three for 41.