Harmanpreet scores a century and Goud takes six wickets as India wins the series 2-1
Harmanpreet scores a century and Goud takes six wickets as India wins the series 2-1
In a thrilling series decider, India Women won against England Women by 13 runs to seal a memorable 2-1 ODI series win. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur's captaincy and a sensational six-wicket haul by young pacer Kranti Goud restricted the English team to 305.
India wrapped up their ODI series in style, beating England by 13 runs in a high-scoring and dramatic finale to win the series 2-1. The stars of the day were Harmanpreet Kaur with a brilliant century and Kranti Goud with a stunning six-wicket haul that sealed the match in the final moments.
Harmanpreet was at her absolute best, scoring 102 runs from just 84 balls. Her knock pushed India’s total to a massive 318 runs setting England a record-breaking target to chase in their last match before the upcoming World Cup. This century was Harmanpreet’s seventh in ODIs and came after a tough patch where she hadn’t scored a fifty in her last 13 innings.
She was backed up well by Jemimah Rodrigues, who made a classy 50 and shared a 110-run partnership with Harmanpreet. Smriti Mandhana and Harleen Deol chipped in with 45 runs each, and Richa Ghosh provided a strong finish with 38 runs off just 18 balls. India scored 120 runs in the final 10 overs, putting serious pressure on England.
Harmanpreet passed 4000 career ODI runs during her innings, becoming only the third Indian woman to reach this milestone.
England’s reply got off to a rough start. Kranti Goud removed both openers Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones within the first three overs. A perfect in-swinger bowled Beaumont, and Jones was dismissed thanks to a brilliant one-handed catch by Deepti Sharma at short third.
With England struggling at 8 for 2, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Emma Lamb brought their team back into the game. Their 162-run stand steadied the innings and gave England a chance. Lamb played a composed knock of 68, while Sciver-Brunt came close to a century, finishing on 98 before getting out to Deepti Sharma via a review.
Once both set batters were gone, England lost momentum. Lamb was bowled by Shree Charani while sweeping, and Sciver-Brunt’s dismissal came after UltraEdge confirmed a glove edge to the keeper Richa Ghosh.
India’s bowlers stuck to their plans and struck back at the right moments. Goud returned later in the innings to clean up the tail. She dismissed Davidson-Richards and Lauren Filer on back-to-back deliveries to complete her five-wicket haul, then added a sixth by getting Lauren Bell caught by Harmanpreet.
Rodrigues contributed in the field too, taking two smart catches in the deep to remove Dean and Ecclestone. Sophia Dunkley was run out in a mix-up with Davidson-Richards, with Ghosh producing a direct hit from point.
Sophie Ecclestone was the most economical English bowler, giving away just 28 runs in her 10 overs, but the rest of England’s attack couldn’t control India’s scoring. Many bowlers ended up conceding heavily, allowing the game to tilt in India’s favour.
India will now play three more ODIs at home against Australia from September 14 to 20 before the World Cup begins on September 30. England’s squad, meanwhile, will regroup and look to learn from this series as they prepare to travel to India and Sri Lanka for the World Cup.