In a nail-biting finale at the Riverside Ground, India Women emerged victorious by 13 runs against England Women, thanks to a blazing century from skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and a sensational six-wicket haul from emerging pacer Kranti Goud. With this win, India sealed the three-match ODI series 2-1, bringing down the curtain on a fiercely fought contest between two powerhouses of women’s cricket.
Batting Brilliance Sets the Tone
After winning the toss and opting to bat, India Women posted a formidable total of 318/5 in their allotted 50 overs. The innings was anchored by none other than Harmanpreet Kaur, who played a captain’s knock, scoring 102 runs off just 84 deliveries, showcasing her trademark power and placement.
She was well-supported by Jemimah Rodrigues, who chipped in with a fluent 50 off 45 balls, and Smriti Mandhana, who provided a steady start with 45 off 54. The Indian middle order capitalized on the platform laid by the top-order, pushing the score past the 300-mark.
Despite the large total, England’s bowlers kept their discipline. Sophie Ecclestone was the pick of the lot, delivering a miserly spell of 1/28 in 10 overs, while Lauren Filer and Charlie Dean managed to pick up one wicket each, albeit at higher economy rates.
England Fight Hard But Fall Short
Chasing 319, England Women showed great spirit. Nat Sciver-Brunt led the charge with a valiant 98 off 105 balls, falling agonizingly short of a century. Emma Lamb added stability with a composed 68, and Alice Davidson-Richards injected late momentum with a quickfire 44 off 34 deliveries.
However, just when England looked to snatch the game, Kranti Goud struck — and how! The young Indian pacer tore through the English batting order with a match-winning spell of 6/52 in 9.5 overs, including crucial wickets during the death overs. Her variations and nerves of steel proved too hot to handle for the visitors.
Nallapureddy Charani also made her presence felt, grabbing 2 wickets for 68, while Deepti Sharma kept things tight in the middle overs with 1/55.
England were eventually bowled out for 305 in 49.5 overs, falling just 13 runs short of the target in a match that went down to the wire.
A Statement Victory for India
This win will go down as a memorable one for India Women’s cricket — not only because it sealed the series but also for the way different players stepped up under pressure. Harmanpreet’s century was a masterclass in controlled aggression, while Kranti Goud’s six-wicket haul announced her arrival on the big stage.
The match was also a great advertisement for the growing competitiveness of women’s cricket, with both teams pushing each other to the limit across all three ODIs.
Score Summary:
India Women: 318/5 (50 overs)
- Harmanpreet Kaur – 102 (84)
- Jemimah Rodrigues – 50 (45)
- Smriti Mandhana – 45 (54)
- Sophie Ecclestone – 1/28 (10)
England Women: 305 all out (49.5 overs)
- Nat Sciver-Brunt – 98 (105)
- Emma Lamb – 68 (81)
- Alice Davidson-Richards – 44 (34)
- Kranti Goud – 6/52 (9.5)
Match Stats at a Glance:
- Player of the Match: Kranti Goud (6/52)
- Player of the Series: Harmanpreet Kaur (for consistent performances including a match-winning ton)
- Venue: Riverside Ground
- Series Result: India Women won the ODI series 2-1
