England well beaten as India take ODI series win

Banks Homes Riverside, Banks Homes Riverside, and Third Metro Bank One-Day International

India 318-5 (50 overs): Harmanpreet 102 (84), Rodrigues 50 (45)

England 305 (49.5 overs): Sciver-Brunt 98, Goud 6-52

India defeated by 13 runs.

In their winner-takes-all third one-day international, India won the series by 2-1 at Chester-le-Street.

After Kranti Goud dismissed openers Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones, England needed a women’s ODI record 319 to win the match. The hosts were 8-2 in the third over with that score after a poor field performance that made them need a women’s ODI record 319.

The chase was revived thanks to Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt’s 162 and Emma Lamb’s support, who both scored 68, but scored a catch down the leg on 98.

Despite 34 from Sophia Dunkley, 44 from Alice Davidson-Richards, and 21 from Charlie Dean, it always seemed like a long shot for England to win. However, 121 runs were still required from there.

In the 40th over, Dunkley was let go in a definate manner, and seamer Goud, age 21, returned to finish with 6-52, her maiden five-wicket total. Despite some lower-order hitting, which reduced England’s margin of defeat to 13 runs, the seamer returned.

In the final over, England were bowled out for 305.

It was a stand of 110 balls between Harmanpreet and Jemimah Rodrigues, who both made 50 from 45, that took the game away from England, despite opener Smriti Mandhana and third-ranked Harleen Deol making 45 for India.

With the outcome, England has plenty to consider after completing their T20 series with another ODI.

This appeared to be a close game on paper. In reality, India played better cricket throughout.

It would have only tarnished the ship’s ashes had Sciver-Brunt, who began her reign as skipper by toppling West Indies at the start of the summer, managed to pull off her most recent rescue act. When India provided a step up in class, they have been far behind.

Goud’s fifth international, which she played, had more movement and accuracy than England’s seamers. The pick of Beaumont’s wickets came from a nip-backer who bowled the opener for two.

The field was where the most obvious difference between the sides ended up.

With 55 needed from 30 balls, Rodrigues took a tumbling catch to beat Dean, putting an end to England’s quest, with one-handed diving from Jones’s path. Only two runs were added to the 46th over, which was bowled by the talented Goud.

When Deepti attempted to sweep, Sciver-Brunt had the unfortunate experience of having a ball speared down his leg. In a struggling team, she continues to be the best.

Although Chester-le-Street’s lack of threat with the ball on a flat pitch was a glaring issue when England arrived in India, they will likely face significantly different circumstances.

Lauren Bell was ineffective without the new-ball movement. Wayward were left-arm spinner Linsey Smith and seamer Lauren Filer. With Bell, Smith, and Dean all ranking in the top 15 most expensive for England, only Ecclestone managed to exert any sort of control.

India were 162-3 when Deol top-edged a catch off Bell in the 33rd over, but Harmanpreet and Rodrigues paced their innings flawlessly.

As Harmanpreet timed the ball all around the ground, India added 120 more runs in the final ten overs. Rodrigues swept as she hit a number of elegant drives. In 82 balls, the India skipper scored her seventh ODI century, placing her second in the country.

England’s fielding issues have repeatedly hampered their cause.

Only one dropped catch was present on this occasion, which was a difficult chance for Filer, who had to point out Richa Ghosh, but repeated fumbles only served to heighten the feeling of a loss of control.

We have had incredible energy on the field during various phases of different games. Simply put, we haven’t been able to keep it up. We could have had less runs to chase in the end, I suppose, because there was a little bit of a difference between the two teams in the field today.

“We are aware of how much fielding can affect games. India excels in this area. Who we are playing against is up for that kind of performances on the field.

Harmanpreet Kaur, India’s captain, said, “I’m really happy with the way we played in both of the series. We’re putting our best foot forward, thanks to our team, and we’re collaborating.