India women’s cricket team wrapped up their three-match ODI series against England with a hard-fought 13-run victory in the final match at Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street. The standout performer of the game was skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who hammered a spectacular 102 off just 84 balls.
Her innings, laced with 14 boundaries, marked her second-fastest century in ODIs and her seventh overall. This stunning knock played a pivotal role in helping India post a formidable 318/5—India’s second-highest ODI total against England.
Harmanpreet not only ended her century drought of over a year but also etched her name in the record books. She became the first visiting player to score three ODI centuries on English soil and only the third Indian woman to cross the 4,000-run milestone in ODIs. Her aggressive batting was well supported by Jemimah Rodrigues, with whom she stitched a crucial 110-run partnership off just 77 deliveries.
England’s Fightback Falls Short
Chasing a steep target of 319, England put up a gritty fight, largely thanks to Nat Sciver-Brunt’s brilliant 98-run knock. Despite her valiant effort, England couldn’t maintain the required momentum as wickets kept falling at crucial stages. The Indian bowlers held their nerve, especially in the death overs, to keep the hosts at bay.
England’s innings showed promise but lacked the finishing punch. While Sciver-Brunt anchored the chase, none of the other batters could convert their starts into match-winning scores. India’s consistent bowling and sharp fielding ensured that the match never slipped entirely out of their hands.
Kranti Goud Shines with the Ball
While Harmanpreet stole the spotlight with the bat, Kranti Goud emerged as the bowling hero. Her exceptional spell of 6/52 broke England’s backbone and proved to be the turning point of the match. It was one of the best bowling performances by an Indian woman in an ODI against England.
Goud’s disciplined line and variations troubled the English batters, especially during the middle overs. Her ability to pick wickets at regular intervals helped India apply pressure and eventually seal the match. With this win, India clinched the series 2-1, highlighting their growing dominance in the ODI format under Harmanpreet’s captaincy.
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