India run out of steam, England sweep series
GUWAHATI:Needing three runs in the final over of the last T20 against England, India were all but home in their bid to avoid a whitewash in the three-game series on Saturday. Mithali Raj was at the non-striker’s end and the dressing room was relieved at the prospect of a consolation win.
The last over though was eventful as Katheryne Cross gave away one run and took the last two wickets, leaving Mithali and India stranded. India choked and lost the game by one run, losing the series 0-3.
Skipper Smriti Mandhana scored a brilliant 39-ball 58 runs and Mithali provided impetus to the chase of 120 with a 32-ball 30, yet India failed to convert the performance into a win. Going into the last over, Cross kept up the pressure by bringing wicketkeeper Amy Jones up. After bowling three dot balls, she removed Bharti Fulmali (5) and followed it up with Anuja Patil’s (0) wicket, leaving the spectators on the edge of their seats. Cross didn’t let Mithali take strike and Shikha Pandey ended the innings scoring just one run of the last ball. It was India’s seventh consecutive T20 loss.
England managed the win without fielding their top bowler Katherine Brunt, who has been
in sublime form with the ball in the ODIs and T20s.
India’s spinners did a fine job to dismiss England for 119/6 in 20 overs with offie Anuja Patil (2/13) and leg-spinner Harleen Deol (2/13) standout performers. They were supported by left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht (1/32) and leg-spinner Poonam Yadav (1/19). After openers Danielle Wyatt (24) and Tammy Beaumont (29) stitched a partnership of 51 runs, England kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Batting at five, Amy Jones revived the innings with a 21-ball 26.
India’s chase was all about Smriti, who gave a blazing start. Even when she fell at 87/3, India had an upper hand with Mithali going great guns. But the middleorder made a mess of the chase with Deepti Sharma getting run out for four with Bharti and Anuja losing the plot. Playing in
her second match, Bharti consumed 13 balls for her five runs.
“It was very disappointing to see the batters give away the match so easily. I should have stayed till the end with Mithali to make sure India won. It would have been ideal for the other batters to give Mithali the strike in the last over,” said a dejected Smriti. “There is pressure on the bowlers in low scoring T20 games. I knew dot balls will come in handy. At the same time there is a risk involved. Thankfully, we maintained pressure and it worked for us,” said the 27-yearold Cross, who was also exceptional in the Women’s Big Bash League for Brisbane Heat and Perth Scorchers.
Brief scores: England 119/6 in 20 overs (Tammy Beaumont 29; Anuja Patil 2/13, Harleen Deol 2/13) beat India 118/6 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 58, Mithali Raj 30*; Kate Cross 2/18).