It was a depressing Wednesday with the bat for India as they recorded their lowest complete for the reason that 2009 World Cup, succumbing to a four-wicket loss in opposition to defending champions England at Mount Maunganui. Off-spinner Charlie Dean returned career-best figures of 4 for 23 to bundle India out for 134, with seven batters failing to get into double figures. England’s first win of the match after three straight defeats gave a lifeline to their World Cup title protection.
Put in to bat, India survived merely 36.2 overs and England chased down the goal in 31.2 overs. The six wickets they misplaced have been within the endeavour of chasing down the runs rapidly to spice up their internet run charge (NRR). As a consequence, England’s NRR improved to 0.351 from -0.156, whereas India’s dipped to 0.632 from 1.333.
Batting collapse
Another day, one other batting collapse for Team India. After a morale-boosting 155-run win in opposition to the West Indies, Indian batters placed on a disappointing present. Smriti Mandhana top-scored with 35 whereas wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh made 33.
The England group, closely criticized for his or her poor fielding in opposition to South Africa, did not give an inch to the Indians. They plucked all the pieces which went within the air and even affected two run-outs. Indian batters’ poor shot choice and nearly suicidal working between the wickets additionally contributed to their downfall.
Shrubsole continues to hang-out India
Anya Shrubsole, star of the Lord’s closing in opposition to India 5 years in the past, eliminated Yastika Bhatia and Mithali Raj with the brand new ball, incomes her a centesimal ODI wicket within the course of. Sophia Dunkley took a low catch to dismiss Mithali for one.
The 30-year-old seamer had performed a big function in England’s 2017 win. She took 5 wickets in 19 balls and her figures of 6/46 led a storming England comeback because the hosts broke India’s hearts and received the title for the fourth time.
Shrubsole went 11 balls with out conceding a run, however India’s persistence didn’t repay as Deepti Sharma went for a 10-ball duck as England affected a run-out, Kate Cross hitting the stumps to scale back India to twenty-eight for 3.
Dean’s magic
Playing solely her second World Cup match, Dean broke India’s again with double-wicket maiden. She dismissed Harmanpreet Kaur for 14 from 26 balls because the Indian vice-captain nicked one to wicketkeeper Amy Jones earlier than Sneh Rana fell precisely the identical means two balls later. Ecclestone eliminated Mandhana to place the ultimate nail within the coffin as India slipped to 71 for six.
A big day for Deano who takes her profession greatest ODI figures #CWC22 pic.twitter.com/WJ2WcPOsQK
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) March 16, 2022
Dean thought she had her third when Pooja Vastrakar was given out leg earlier than, however the evaluate confirmed the influence was exterior the road. It didn’t matter as Dean dismissed her two balls later in the identical means, a evaluate not capable of save the batter this time.
A 37-run stand was India’s greatest of the day – between Richa Ghosh and Jhulan Goswami. Nat Sciver offered the subsequent wicket, one other run-out, earlier than Goswami went in the identical Cross over, sending a catch straight to Danni Wyatt at backward level. India’s innings got here to an finish as Meghna Singh turned Dean’s fourth sufferer.
Bowlers present coronary heart
However, Indian bowlers confirmed struggle. Wyatt’s poor begin as a World Cup opener continued as she was dismissed for one as Sneh Rana took an awesome catch at slip earlier than Tammy Beaumont was adjudged LBW on evaluate for Goswami’s 250th ODI wicket.
Milestone – 250 wickets in ODIs for @JhulanG10 #CWC22 pic.twitter.com/g0f1CqT3Sl
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) March 16, 2022
Goswami might need had one other wicket, however Sciver survived by the barest of margins because the ball hit the stumps with out dislodging the bails. That proved essential, as Sciver placed on 65 runs with Heather Knight earlier than being dismissed by Vastrakar for 45 from 46 balls, caught by Goswami at midwicket.
After scoring 4 from her first 25 balls, Amy Jones wished to complete the match rapidly and hit Gayakwad again down the bottom for six, however she went the very subsequent ball as Kaur took a blinder to depart England on 102 for 4.
Meanwhile, skipper Knight (53 not out) accomplished her twenty third ODI fifty from 66 balls as she and Dunkley discovered the boundary with growing regularity. Meghna Singh returned to take away Dunkley (17) and Katherine Brunt for a duck, however the harm had already been accomplished. Ecclestone completed the match with a 4 as England put their first factors on the board. They are actually positioned seventh with two factors from 4 video games. India have 4 factors from as many matches.
What subsequent for India?
India can be up in opposition to table-toppers Australia on March 19, and the Mithali Raj-led group cannot afford one other slip-up. Two wins of their subsequent three matches could be sufficient for India if they do not lose by a giant margin, like they did on Wednesday, in opposition to the rampant Australians.
India have failed their batting take a look at in opposition to England; a sterner take a look at in opposition to Australia awaits subsequent up. It can be attention-grabbing to see whether or not the group administration brings in Shafali Verma, who was dropped after their match opener.
Brief Scores:
India 134 all out in 36.2 overs (Smriti Mandhana 35, Richa Ghosh 33; Charlie Dean 4/23, Anya Shrubsole 2/20) misplaced to England 136/6 in 31.2 overs (Heather Knight 53 not out, Nat Sciver 45; Meghna Singh 3/26) by 4 wickets
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
