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The hosts came out triumphant in the T20I series by 2-1 after England Women defeated India in the series deciding third T20 international by seven wickets. The focus now moves to the three-match fifty-over series as they’re set to lock horns in the first ODI at Hove on September 18.
The white-ball tour began with England hammering the visitors by nine wickets in the first T20I at Chester le Street. Sarah Glenn bagged career-best 4 for 23 as England restricted India to 132/7. Sophia Dunkley then scored 61* off 44 along with Alice Capsey, who smashed 20-ball 32*, to complete the chase in just 13 overs.
India women turned the tables in the second game at Derby, winning by eight wickets. Sneh Rana picked 3 for 25 to restrict England to 142/6 despite Freya Kemp’s sublime 51* off 37 down the order. Smriti Mandhana then blasted an unbeaten 79 off 53 to power India over the line with 20 balls to spare.
The third and final T20I saw English bowlers doing a superb job – led by Sophie Ecclestone’s 3 for 25 – to hold India to just 122/8 in 20 overs. Dunkley made 49 off 44, whereas Capsey belted 38* off 24 to take the side home.
Coming to the fifty-over format, the series counts towards the ICC Women’s Championship, in which India are sitting at the top with three out of three wins while England are yet to play.
England women had defeated India by 2-1 a year ago when they last played a bilateral series. Earlier this year, the two sides clashed in the ODI World Cup with England registering a four-wicket victory.
The hosts will be without their key players in Heather Knight, Nat Sciver and Katherine Brunt. While they could not win the T20I leg, they have a good chance of clinching the ODI series.
Key players
A key figure for India at the top of the order, Smriti Mandhana is in great form, coming off a magnificent 53-ball 79* in the third T20I. The left-hand batter earlier had a fantastic campaign in the Hundred as well.
Her ODI record makes for impressive reading, having scored 2892 runs from 74 matches at an average of 42.5 while striking at 84. Mandhana has registered five centuries and 23 half centuries at this level.
Alice Capsey has made a rapid rise in world cricket with some consistent, impactful performances over the last few months. The all-rounder has proven herself a very skillful, calm batter and someone who can win matches with the ball as well. The 18-year-old recently scored 112 runs in the Hundred at an average of 29 and strike rate of 142 while also picking eight wickets at 6.25 rpo. In the T20I series, she scored 74 runs in three innings at a strike rate of 148.
World’s no. 1 ranked bowler in ODI cricket, Sophie Ecclestone, has snared 79 wickets in 49 matches at a strike rate of 34 while conceding at just 3.70 rpo. The left-arm spinner has one five-for and two four-fors to her credit in the format. She’s coming off a superb 3 for 25 in the final T20I that earned her the ‘player of the match’ award.
Renuka Singh has the ability to extract the movement on offer and run through the batting units. The right-arm seamer was sensational in the recent Commonwealth Games, picking 11 wickets in five games, including two four-wicket hauls. Renuka Singh has played five ODIs so far and has claimed 10 scalps at an average of 18.20 with best figures of 4 for 28.
Prediction
The head-to-head record in the ODI format between the two sides favours England Women, who have won 40 matches compared to 31 by India. The recent record also goes to England, having won four out of the last five encounters.
Despite their injury troubles, England have enough depth to field a strong XI. Batting unit will have Dunkley, Tammy Beaumont, Amy Jones and Danni Wyatt along with Capsey and Kemp, who are in line to make ODI debuts. The bowling attack of Ecclestone, Kate Cross, Issy Wong, Charlie Dean, alongside all-round options, remains potent.
India have a very good side with several impact players. The batting unit has Smriti and Shafali Verma at the top, with Harmanpreet Kaur in the middle. But it can be vulnerable with no other quality batters barring Jemimah Rodrigues, who has fitness concerns. All-rounders Rana, Deepti Sharma, and Pooja Vastrakar offer good value to the side. The seam attack starring Renuka, Jhulan Goswami, and Meghana Singh can be their strength.
Overall, both the teams seem to have some strengths and some weaknesses, but the hosts look slightly better. Expect England to win the first ODI.
