Shafali Verma (96) and Smriti Mandhana (78) produce a record opening partnership for India, which loses five wickets in 16 races when England take control of the Women’s Event at Bristol; Watch the third day live on Sky Sports Mix from 10.45 am
England enjoyed an incredible resurgence to take control of the LV = Insurance Women’s Test against India, despite 17-year-old sensation Shafali Verma producing an impressive 96 innings on the second day at Bristol.
In response to England’s total of 396 innings, 17-year-old Verma (96) and Smriti Mandhana (78) rewrote the record books with brilliant hitting play to compile a sensational opening position of 167, the highest in the world. India in women’s test cricket.
However, the visitors were left to mourn an extraordinary capitulation in the final stages, losing five wickets by just 16 races when they closed at 187-5, losing by 209 races.
Heather Knight (2-1) led from the front with a brilliant six-over spell, while Kate Cross (1-40), Nat Sciver (1-21) and Sophie Ecclestone (1-61) contributed to change the dynamic. on county land.
Earlier in the day, Sophia Dunkley (74 out) became the 10th woman to make a fifty in her test debut for England, while an explosive cameo from Anya Shrubsole (47 out of 33) helped the hosts post their sixth. highest score in red. ball cricket.
With England resuming the game at 269-6, India was hoping to exploit the cloudy conditions with the new ball, and Jhulan Goswami (1-58) made an immediate breakthrough, catching Katherine Brunt (8) lbw after a clever review. .
Dunkley was unfazed; rebuilding England’s innings alongside Ecclestone (17), and after successfully overturning an lbw decision at 46, the rookie turned up her fifty with a delicate clip of her legs.
Shrubsole put a beleaguered Indian bowling line up to the sword after lunch, falling just shy of a maiden proof of fifty, prompting a statement from Knight at 396-9, with Dunkley undefeated at 74.
India looked downcast after 122 grueling races on the field, though their spirits were lifted by a superb opening partnership between Mandhana and Verma, who complemented each other superbly.
Known for her T20 feats, Verma enjoyed good fortune in the early stages of her innings as Brunt and Shrubsole produced high-quality opening spells, but grew in confidence and stature as India reached the tea unscathed at 63-0. .
The visitors got off to a spectacular start to the evening session and Verma performed with refreshing freedom, recording 13 fours and two sixes on her marvelous 152-ball hit.
The teenager scored the highest score of an Indian woman on the test debut, though after running in the ’90s, she was fired just four races in history, missing a full delivery from Cross to Shrubsole midway.
Mandhana adopted the aggressor’s mantle after Verma’s removal, but having posed her second half-century of trial in a typically graceful manner, she was duped by a slower delivery from Sciver.
This sparked an incredible collapse for India, and their decision to insert night watchman Shikha Pandey fell through, and No.11 returned the ball directly to Knight to leave without disturbing the scorers.
The visitors’ woes were compounded when they lost their indomitable captain Mithali Raj moments later, when Ecclestone had an instant impact on his return to attack.
Tammy Beaumont took a regulation catch on the short leg after Raj (2) was inducted forward following an in-flight delivery, and although she was initially not delivered, a successful review from England led to her disappearance.
Punam Raut (2) struggled for fluency throughout her 31-ball innings and succumbed after a puzzling error in judgment, opting to leave a direct delivery from Knight that saw her caught up front.
However, India received a pardon in the final stages. Harmanpreet Kaur was awarded lbw on the field, although England was denied another prized scalp as the review showed there was a weak inner edge.
Knight’s team certainly has the momentum heading into day three, and they will expect the rain to hold off as they await a first test win against India at home.
Live coverage of the women’s event between England and India continues on Sky Sports Mix from 10.45am on Friday.
