Jhulan Goswami's fairytale finish marred with controversial finish as India clean sweep England

Jhulan Goswami took 2 wickets in her final outing [Image Credit- Twitter]

The legendary Jhulan Goswami's swansong from international cricket proved to be a fairytale one as India Women successfully defended their total of 169 [by 17 runs] in the 3rd ODI at Lord's to inflict a 3-0 whitewash on hosts England.

Chasing 170, England got off to a decent start as they moved to 27/0 inside 8 overs thanks to opener Emma Lamb's 29-ball 21.

However, once again, Renuka Singh Thakur (4/29 in 10) came to India's rescue as she removed Lamb thanks to a brilliant stumping from Yastika Bhatia.

Singh followed it up by castling Tammy Beaumont with a beautiful out-swinger.

The legendary Jhulan Goswami chipped in with the wicket of Alice Capsey (caught at point) before Renuka removed Sophia Dunkley with an inswinger.

It continued to become worse for England women as they slipped from 27/0 to 53/6 and then 65/7 as Rajeshwari Gayakwad knocked over Dani Wyatt (bowled) and Sophie Ecclestone (caught by Goswami at 1st slip) before Deepti got rid of Freya Kemp.

Amy Jones (28 off 50) and Charlie Dean () led England's revival with a 38-run-stand before Renuka returned to claim her 4th scalp in the form of Jones.

Jhulan (2/30 in 10) then castled Kate Cross with a beautiful nip-backer in what was his final over in international cricket. 

Goswami then dropped Dean at 1st slip off the bowling of Deepti Sharma, and the English batter made India pay as she knocked off the remaining runs bit-by-bit, but with 18 runs to get, she moved out of her crease at the non-striker end and was run-out by Deepti Sharma.

Kate Cross cripples India with her lethal bowling

Jhulan Goswami received a standing ovation when she walked out to bat [Image Credit- Twitter]

Earlier, India got off to a disastrous start to their innings as the Women in Blue lost Shafali Verma, Yastika Bhatia, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and Harleen Deol in the first 9 overs.

Right-arm seamer Kate Cross (4/26 in 10) was the main wrecker-in-chief as she castled Verma and Bhatia before trapping Kaur plumb in front.

Her partner, Freya Davis, backed her up by removing Harleen for a 5-ball 3, leaving India gasping for breath at 29/4.

Amid the carnage, Smriti Mandhana once again held the fort as she racked up her 2nd 50+ score of the series.

Mandhana smashed 5 fours in her 78-ball 50, and, while she was eventually dismissed by Cross, her partner- Deepti Sharma- held the fort and ensured that India got to a respectable total of 169.

Sharma racked up 7 boundaries in her unbeaten 106-ball 68, and while the likes of Jhulan Goswami, Renuka Singh and Rajeshwari Gayakwad didn't help her cause by getting out for ducks, she was abely supported by Pooja Vastrakar, who scored 38-ball 22.

Brief Scores:

India Women 169/10 (45.4)

Deepti Sharma 68* (106), Smriti Mandhana 50 (79)
Kate Cross 4/26 (10), Freya Kemp 2/24 (7)

England Women 153/10  (43.4)

Charlotte Dean 47 (80), Amy Jones 28 (50)
Renuka Singh 4/29 (10), Jhulan Goswami 2/30 (10), Rajeshwari Gayakwad 2/33 (8)

Result: India Women won by 17 runs and claim the series 3-0

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