Match report: Eng vs Ind (Women), 3rd ODI
First Published : 06 Jul 2012, 10:50
Last Modified : 06 Jul 2012, 10:55
Mumbai desk, July 5: England beat India by three wickets in the third ODI, thus spoiling the visitors’ chances of taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
India skipper Mithali Raj’s 138-ball 92 went in vain as the visitors failed to defend their meagre total of 173. The hosts, who now trail India 1-2, reached the target with 16 balls to spare, keeping their series hopes alive.
Chasing 174, England lost captain Charlotte Edwards in the second over. But Tammy Beaumont (44) and Sarah Taylor added 58 runs for the second wicket before Gouhar Sultana sent back the latter. N Niranjana, who had earlier trapped Edwards leg before, bowled Beaumont to end her partnership with Lisa Greenway for 35 runs in the 27th over. But at 100 for the loss of three, England were in a better position than the opposition at that stage. Greenway, who was caught by Raj off Sultana for 20, added 40 runs for the fourth wicket with Arran Brindle before walking back to the pavilion.
With 34 runs required from 12.2 overs, England lost three quick wickets but Brindle, who remained not out on 40, ensured an England victory.
Asked to bat first, India lost both openers with just 18 runs on the board. The India skipper anchored the innings to help set England a modest target. First Poonam Raut edged Katherine Brunt to Sarah Taylor behind the stumps without opening her account and 13 runs later, Mona Meshram nicked Jenny Gunn to the wicketkeeper in the 11th over. The bad run continued for India with Harmanpreet Kaur and Veda Krishnamurthy returning to the dressing room for single-digit scores.
Reema Malhotra then stitched together a 71-run partnership with Raj before being sent back by Danielle Waytt for 24; the off-spinner had earlier claimed Krishnamurthy to leave India at four for 47. Sulkashana Naik, who replaced Malhotra in the middle, was involved in an unbroken 55-run stand with the captain to help the team reach 173 for the loss of five wickets.
Brief scores: India 173/5 in 50 overs (M Raj 92*, S Naik 24*, R Malhotra 24, D Waytt 2/45) lost to England 177/7 in 47.2 overs (T Beaumont 44, A Brindle 40*, G Sultana 3/26) by 3 wickets
Player-of-the-Match: Mithali Raj for her valiant effort of 92 not out
