Done and dusted at Mount Maunganui. England finally get their World Cup campaign off the mark with a four-wicket win, giving their Net Run Rate a massive boost with a little under 19 overs to spare. India though, did well to snare six wickets, three of which went into Meghna Singh’s kitty, and certainly could’ve defended a total in excess of 200 if only the batters had shown a little more application.
India, meanwhile, face an even tougher test later in the weekend, as they take on six-time champions Australia — who are among the two sides yet to lose a game in the tournament. Mithali Raj and Co will have to quickly regroup and iron out their batting flaws as they plot what will considered an upset win by some later this week.
For now, this is Amit signing off wishing you all a good day ahead.
Heather Knight: I think we just needed that. Probably a little scrappy towards the end, two more wickets than what we would’ve liked. Hopefully the start of a momentum shift. I thought the mentality of the girls was great. The bowlers were outstanding. It wasn’t an easy pitch. I was desperate to see the girls over the line with the bat, and wanted to finish the game. Congratulations to Goswami for 250 wickets, it’s an honour playing against her.
Mithali Raj: We definitely didn’t have partnerships up the order, and that’s something that didn’t go our way today despite getting what we wanted in the toss. Putting up 200-plus would’ve definitely brought us in the game. Every game as a fielding unit we’ve been doing well, and we hope to continue that. Batting is a concern. (On Australia) We’re playing a side that has not been beaten in our next game, so we really need to improve. (On Goswami) It’s an honour to play alongside her.
Charlotte Dean is the Player of the Match!
Dean: Really happy. We’ve played really well to come back from a few bad games. I was trying to keep it simple, keep it tight along the stumps. When you’re bowling at the other end of Soph, you’re in good hands. She always has some words of wisdom. This is for you (to family).
After 31.2 overs,England Women 136/6 ( Heather Knight (C) 53 , Sophie Ecclestone 5)
FOUR! Sophie Ecclestone hooks a short ball from Meghna Singh to collect the winning boundary, as England open their account in the 2022 ICC Women’s World Cup with a four-wicket win over India with a little under 19 overs to spare! Skipper Heather Knight remains unbeaten on 53, regaining her form with a match-winning knock.
After 31 overs,England Women 131/6 ( Heather Knight (C) 53 , Sophie Ecclestone 1)
Mithali brings Goswami back, hoping to snare another wicket or two. Just two from the over. Meanwhile Harmanpreet appears to have hurt her knee badly while putting in a slide near mid on in the fifth delivery. The physio runs to the ground to assess her knee, and she’s seen hobbling off the pitch thereafter. Two from the over. England need four to win.
After 30 overs,England Women 129/6 ( Heather Knight (C) 52 , Sophie Ecclestone 0)
Outstanding over from Meghna Singh — too bad it didn’t come earlier when India still were in the game. Dunkley and Brunt depart in a space of three balls as Meghna takes her match tally to three. India will want to make England fight hard for the remaining runs.
OUT! Two wickets in three balls for Meghna Singh! Brunt was perhaps looking to level the scores, but got a thick top-edge instead. Easy catch for Richa Ghosh. ENG 128/6
Brunt c Ghosh b Singh 0(2)
OUT! Dunkley attempts to dab the ball towards third man off Meghna, but ends up serving a low catch for keeper Richa Ghosh. England lose their fifth wicket with just seven more needed to win. ENG 128/5
Dunkley c Ghosh b Singh 17(21)
After 29 overs,England Women 128/4 ( Heather Knight (C) 51 , Sophia Dunkley 17)
Dunkley brings the equation down to single figures by charging down the track and lofting the ball over mid off for a boundary in the third delivery. Couple of singles collected in addition to the boundary. Six from the over.