England women win, claw back in series
The England women's cricket team prevented India from clinching their five-match One-Day International series with a three-wicket victory in the third ODI at the County Ground in Taunton on Thursday, Mithali Raj's unbeaten 92 for India going in vain.
The England women's cricket team prevented India from clinching their five-match One-Day International series with a three-wicket victory in the third ODI at the County Ground in Taunton on Thursday, Mithali Raj's unbeaten 92 for India going in vain.
Put into bat, India's batting collapsed like a pack of cards, much like in the second ODI, where the bowlers came to India's rescue. Danielle Wyatt took two wickets for England, with Katherine Brunt, Georgia Elwiss and Jenny Gunn all taking a wicket apiece.
It took a fifth-wicket stand of 71 between Raj, the Indian captain, and Reema Malhotra, to take India to a seemingly strong total of 173. Both Malhotra and Sulakshana Naik, who came in at No. 6, scored 24 runs each - the only scores of note in India's innings apart from Raj's super effort.
In England's chase of 174, Tammy Beaumont top-scored for England with 44 runs, while Sarah Taylor (34) and Arran Brindle (40 n.o.) also contributed.
Gouher Sultana was India's highest wicket-taker, with 3 for 24, while Nagarajan Niranjana and Archana Das claimed two wickets each.
Eventually, it was a comfortable win for England with the target breached with 16 balls and three wickets remaining.
India lead the series 2-1. The two sides will meet again in the fourth ODI at Boscawen Park in Truro on Sunday, July 8.
Brief scores: India Women 173/5 in 50 overs (Mithali Raj 92 n.o., Reema Malhotra 24, Sulakshana Naik 24 n.o.; Danielle Wyatt 2-45) lost to England Women 177/7 in 47.2 overs (Tammy Beaumont 44, Arran Brindle 40 n.o.; Gouher Sultana 3-26) by 3 wickets.