Deepti works hard to help India win by four wickets
Deepti works hard to help India win by four wickets
ENG W vs IND W 1st ODI: Deepti Sharma scored an unbeaten 62 to guide India to victory. India leads 1-0 in the three-match series after a four-wicket win.
India took a 1–0 lead in their ODI series against England with a composed four-wicket win at Southampton, powered by Deepti Sharma’s unbeaten 62 and Jemimah Rodrigues’ crucial support. It was a performance built on resilience, calm decision-making, and a steady build-up after a rocky start a fitting contrast to the chaotic finish the last time these two sides met in England, back in 2022, when Deepti sealed victory with a controversial run-out at Lord’s.
This match, however, unfolded more traditionally, though it wasn’t short on drama. England began positively with the bat, but suffered an early collapse, slipping to 97 for 4. Their recovery came courtesy of a 106-run partnership between Sophia Dunkley and Alice Davidson-Richards. Dunkley played fluently and aggressively, making 83 off 92 balls despite two missed chances. Davidson-Richards chipped in with 53 to help post a solid total of 258 for 6. Nat Sciver-Brunt, back from injury, added 41 before being dismissed by Sneh Rana, whose 2 for 31 from 10 overs marked her return to form after a quiet T20I series.
India’s bowlers had their moments, particularly 21-year-old Kranti Goud. In just her third international outing, Goud picked up two key wickets early, including a beauty that crashed into Amy Jones’ stumps and a successful lbw appeal against Tammy Beaumont after a review. Rana’s double strike in the middle overs broke England’s momentum, and Shree Charani added her name to the wicket column with a stumping to end Davidson-Richards’ stay.
Despite England’s recovery, India let a few chances slip in the field. Catches went down, run-out opportunities were missed, and the visitors looked slightly uneasy heading into their chase.
Chasing 259, India’s top order struggled to dominate. Smriti Mandhana, fresh off a run-filled T20I leg of the tour, managed 28 before edging Lauren Bell behind. Pratika Rawal’s 36 off 51 balls laid a foundation, but once she was bowled by Sophie Ecclestone, England began to tighten control. Harleen Deol’s unusual run-out, her bat floating above the crease while short of the line, handed England a golden opportunity. Moments later, Charlie Dean trapped Harmanpreet Kaur lbw with a ball that beat the inside edge and hit the knee roll, confirmed by DRS to be crashing into middle stump. At that point, India needed 135 at just under a run-a-ball, and England sensed an opening.
That’s when Deepti Sharma stepped up. Calm under pressure, Deepti shifted gears seamlessly defending when required, accelerating with smart shots, and even launching the only six of the match over midwicket. Her partnership of 90 with Jemimah Rodrigues became the match-turning moment. Jemimah played freely until a misjudged scoop gave England a breakthrough, but Deepti continued to steer the innings. She reached her fifty with a neat sweep and was given a slice of fortune when Bell trapped her lbw but England didn’t review replays showed the ball hitting the stumps.
Richa Ghosh was stumped off Dean late in the innings, but the equation was manageable by then. Deepti and Amanjot Kaur calmly finished the chase with 10 balls to spare.
India’s bowling in the first innings was a highlight, especially from Rana and Goud, while their batting though patchy showed promising signs. England will rue missed chances and an inability to break partnerships at key times. They’ll also want a stronger performance from their top order, who couldn’t repeat the explosive form they showed against the West Indies earlier in the summer.
With the World Cup looming just 11 weeks away, both sides will want to iron out wrinkles. For India, the match reaffirmed their ability to stay composed under pressure and bank on teamwork over individual stardom. For England, it’s about converting flashes of brilliance into a full, clinical performance.