In a one-off Test match in Mumbai, England suffered a massive 347-run defeat to India, having collapsed for a second time during their innings.
Heather Knight’s side was dismissed for 136 in their first innings, and in the second innings, they were bowled out for just five fewer runs, bringing the game to an end during the opening session on the third day of the four-day contest.
Deepti Sharma was the standout performer for India, taking 4-32 to finish with figures of 9-39 in the match.
India’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur declared on 186-6 before the start of play on Saturday, setting England a target of 479 to win.
England captain Knight top-scored for her side with 21, while Charlie Dean was the only other player to reach 20 runs as she ended unbeaten on that score.
Knight praised India’s performance, stating, “The main thing is credit to how they played. The conditions are something we’re not used to. We were trying to find a way to score runs.” She further added, “We were better today in our tempo, but it was still tricky. There are a lot of learnings for us, and we need to think of the kind of toolbox we need to play here.”
Tammy Beaumont and Sophia Dunkley started England’s second innings in a more assured manner than the first, putting on 28 runs before the first wicket fell as Beaumont was clean-bowled by Renuka Singh Thakur.
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Pooja Vastrakar claimed two wickets from two balls, first Dunkley for 15 before Nat Sciver-Brunt departed for a golden duck, and England’s batting order collapsed.
England’s highest partnership of the innings came when Knight and Danni Wyatt managed 31 runs inside the next four overs, but the stand was soon broken when Knight became Vastrakar’s third victim before Wyatt fell to Sharma for the second time in the match.
With five wickets down, England’s defeat was sealed, and the visitors slipped from 83-4 to 83-6 when Amy Jones and Sophie Ecclestone were sent packing.
Sharma clean-bowled Kate Cross and then Lauren Filer to claim her fourth of the innings.
England’s defeat was confirmed when Lauren Bell spooned one into the hands of Jemimah Rodrigues at a silly point, securing India’s first Test win at home against England in six attempts.
Speaking about the team’s win, India captain Kaur said, “Everything went to plan, and credit goes to every member of the team. It was our plan to bowl to England like that; we had prepared accordingly. Every player performed their role.”
