Tourists lead series 2-1
Saturday, 07 July 2012
Categories: Cricket - Cricket
England digs in to beat India by three wickets
By ANTHONY MORGAN
ENGLAND has bounced back from two shock defeats to hand India a three-wicket loss in the third one day international in Taunton, Somerset, on Thursday.
After it failed in its chase of 129 on Wednesday, the host opted to again bat second and did a better job of it, with Tammy Beaumont and Sarah Taylor leading the way following the early dismissal – for the third consecutive match – of opener Charlotte Edwards.
Hunting India’s 173-5, Beaumont and Taylor put on 58 off 87 balls for the second wicket before Gouher Sultana broke the stand when she had Taylor stumped by Sulakshana Naik for 34 with the score on 65.
But unlike the earlier matches, England lived up to its world No.1 rank and did what it does best – build partnerships.
Beaumont (44) and Lydia Greenway added 35 for the third wicket before Arran Brindle joined Greenway (20) to add a further 40 runs to take England within 34 runs of victory, before a late flurry of wickets gave India a glimmer of hope.
Brindle, however, protected her wicket and guided her side home in the 48th over with an unbeaten 40 off 52 balls.
Sultana (3-26) was the pick of India’s bowlers while Nagarajan Niranjana (2-35) and Archana Das (2-35) also picked up wickets.
Earlier, India’s top-order woes continued when Poonam Raut and Mona Meshram were dismissed cheaply.
When Harmanpreet Kaur and Veda Krishnamurthy also lost their wickets for single figures, India was in serious trouble at 47-4.
But classy Mithali Raj stood strong to smack her 35th one day half-century, and Reema Malhotra chimed in for a fifth-wicket 71-run stand.
After Malhorta was dismissed for 24 in the 42nd over by Danni Wyatt (2-45), Raj and Naik let fly with a blistering 24 off 25 to give their attack a competitive score to bowl at.
Raj notched an unbeaten 94 in her 138-ball innings marked by just four boundaries and plenty of running.
India leads the five-match series 2-1. The fourth match is in Truro, Cornwall, on Sunday.
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