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Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana Outperform Dunkley As India Women Take 1-0 Lead

Aakash Saini

Deepti Sharma in action in the first ODI [Source: @BCCIWomen/x]Deepti Sharma in action in the first ODI [Source: @BCCIWomen/x]

India Women pipped England by four wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. Deepti Sharma delivered a ‘Player of the Match’ performance for the visitors with a clinical half-century in the run-chase.

Here, we take a look at the entire highlights of the first ODI of the series, as it panned out at The Rose Bowl in Southampton on Wednesday, July 16.

Rana Keeps ENG In Check Despite Dunkley, Capsey 50s

Indian fast bowler Kranti Goud struck with the new ball by removing both English openers, Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones within the first four overs of the match. 

Emma Lamb and captain Nat Sciver-Brunt subsequently forged a healthy 71-run stand to steer England from 20-2 to the brink of the 100-run mark. Star off-spinner Sneh Rana, however, deceived both Lamb and Brunt for 39 and 41 respectively in quick succession as England slipped to 97-4 in 20 overs.

Sophia Dunkley and fellow middle-order batter Alice Davidson-Richards led England’s recovery by punching out majestic half-centuries, with the former top-scoring in the innings with 83 off 92 balls. Sophie Ecclestone also minted 23* quick runs in the death overs to take England to a competitive 258-6.

Deepti Sharma Overcomes Middle-Order Collapse

Indian openers Smriti Mandhana (28 off 24) and Pratika Rawal (36 off 51) started off strongly before falling to Lauren Bell and Sophie Ecclestone respectively. 

Harleen Deol fell short to a bizarre runout while captain Harmanpreet Kaur failed to convert her start as she got caught plumb in front by Charlie Dean. Tottering at 124-4, Jemimah Rodrigues led India’s defiance by compiling 48 runs from 54 balls.

While Rodrigues nicked one towards Amy Jones off Lauren Filer, Deepti Sharma reached her half-century and knocked off the remaining runs for India alongside Richa Ghosh (10 off 12) and Amanjot Kaur (20* off 14). The ‘Women in Blue’ eventually sealed the deal with four wickets and 10 balls to spare.