England batswoman Sophia Dunkley’s unbeaten 73 helped her side to a 5 wicket win over India, in the second ODI of their multi-format series at Taunton yesterday.
After bowling India out for just 221, England thought they were on for a routine chase.
However, it was anything but, as their top order collapsed to 82-3.
Thankfully Dunkley and Yorkshire’s Katherine Brunt saw their side home.
India got off to a steadier start than the first ODI, as Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana put on a 56 run opening partnership, before Mandhana was dismissed for 22 (30), chopping the ball onto her stumps trying to cut seamer Kate Cross.
Image: Bahnfrend
Cross finished the game on 5-34,also taking the scalps of Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana.
India were largely helped to their total by opener Verma who hit a quickfire 44 (55), before being stumped by wicketkeeper Amy Jones off the bowling of Sophie Ecclestone and captain Mithali Raj’s 59 (92) to help anchor the innings.
Raj was eventually dismissed run out after Sophia Dunkley originally misfielded.
A last wicket stand of 27 between Jhulan Goswami and Poonam Yadav helped India over the 200 mark and to a competitive 221.
Spinner Ecclestone finished on figures of 3-33 and Nat Sciver took the other wicket and ended on figures of 1-27.
England’s chase did not get off to the best start as they collapsed to 82-3.
In-form Tammy Beaumont was dismissed for just 10 (15), within less than 5 overs.
Beaumont was bowled playing all around a Goswami delivery that kept low.
Captain Heather Knight was next to go, also for 10 (24) as she was caught by Goswami off the bowling of Poonam Yadav.
Lauren Winfield-Hill provided some resistance to prevent India getting on top and managed to put on 44 runs (57), before being caught by ‘keeper Taniya Bhatia from Shikha Pandey’s bowling.
Nat Sciver and keeper Amy Jones managed to hit 19 (29) and 28 (34) respectively before losing their wickets, leaving England on 133-5.
Sciver was caught behind by Bhatia from the bowling of Rana and Jones was Poonam Yadav’s second victim as she was caught by a sub fielder.
Step forward Sophia Dunkley, making her batting ODI debut.
Dunkley who made her test debut in the the first match of the series and her ODI debut
Image: Bahnfrend
last match, played her innings with the calmness and patience of someone who had 100 caps to see England home.
The Surrey all rounder hit a vital 73* (81) to lead the side to victory, with the help of Katherine Brunt who finished on 33* (46).
Poonam Yadav finished on 2-63 for India with Goswami, Pandey and Rana chipping in for 1-39, 1-34 and 1-43 respectively.
England now lead the multi format series 6-2, with both sides gaining 2 points for the Test draw and England getting 2 points for both their ODI victories.
Heather Knight’s side will now look forward to the next ODI at Worcester on 3 July.
Featured Image: Ytfc23
