India-W stutter in dying embers as England-W clinch thrilling win
The Indian women had a major heartbreak on Sunday as they slipped from the very jaws of what could have been an emphatic win against the English women. Dangling by a thread in the fourth position still, courtesy of rain washing away the New Zealand-Pakistan battle a day prior, their upcoming clash against the White Ferns will turn out into a clash of survival.
Winning the toss, England opted to bat first. Tamsin Beaumont (22) and Amy Jones (56) got off to a fine start. Before Deepti Sharma could rattle through the defences of Beaumont, the opening duo had already added 73 runs. Sharma shone again in quick succession, packing Jones too as India found a glimmer of hope.
The English captain, Nat Sciver-Brunt joined by their former skipper, Heather Knight (109) started looking ominous. Knight commandeered the innings while Sciver-Brunt was happy to play second fiddle as the scorecard kept on ticking. The duo of Knight and Sciver-Brunt added 113 runs for the third wicket, a pair that hurt India’s ambitions dearly.
It was N Charani who eventually managed to break the partnership, claiming the crucial scalp of Sciver-Brunt which opened up the floodgates for India. Knight continued her charge and eventually fell to a run-out affected by Amanjot Kaur. Despite losing out quick wickets towards the end, England managed to tot up 288 on the board. Deepti Sharma was the silverlining in the Indian bowling unit, claiming four wickets in her allotment of 10 overs.
The Indian chase got off to a wrong note as Pratika Rawal (6) couldn’t really get going. Harleen Deol (24) did offer some solidity at number three but it was Smriti Mandhana again who led the Indian assault up front. In spite of losing Deol in quick succession too, the Indian captain stepped up big time.
Harmanpreet Kaur (700 knitted together a formidable stand of 125 runs for the third wicket with Mandhana who blasted a fine innings of 88. Once Kaur was back to the pavilion, Deepti Sharma looked good for her half-century too. Sharma and Mandhana 57 runs for the fourth wicket and India were cruising at 234/3.
However, a bid to accelerate from Smriti went horribly haywire as her inside-out strike against Linsey Smith went straight into the hands of Alice Capsey. Richa Ghosh (8) and Sharma (50) continued to push but a double whammy that consumed them both, left India teetering dangerously close enough to the cliff. The departure of Sharma was a stake through the heart of the Indian fans as Amanjot Kaur (18*) and Sneh Rana (10*) were quick enough to drag India across the finish line.
India fell short of the Promised Land by an agonizing four runs. Heather Knight won the Player of the Match award for her sensational 109 in the first innings. India will be returning to action on 23rd October where they will be squaring off against the White Ferns.
