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- India Women vs England Women highlights, 3rd T20I: Alice Capsey, Heather Knight power Australia to 6-wicket win vs India
India Women vs England Women highlights, 3rd T20I: Alice Capsey, Heather Knight power Australia to 6-wicket win vs India
The series has also served as an important testing ground for India as they fine-tune their combinations for English conditions. So far, Yastika Bhatia has been India's most consistent batter, following up a half-century in the opening game with another useful contribution. Jemimah Rodrigues also registered a fifty, while Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma showed encouraging signs in the second match.
Despite promising starts, India's batting has struggled to finish strongly. The team lost momentum in the closing overs of both matches, exposing concerns in the middle order. Richa Ghosh, regarded as one of India's most explosive hitters, has yet to make a significant impact, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur may need to shoulder greater responsibility in the death overs.
England have faced similar issues with the bat. Amy Jones' 67 remains the only half-century by an English batter in the series, with several players getting starts but failing to convert them into substantial scores. Both teams will be eager to address those shortcomings in the series decider.
Danielle Gibson to Harmanpreet Kaur, Length-delivery, around off, Kaur cuts it straight to backward point.
Danielle Gibson to Harmanpreet Kaur, Slower one, on a length, outside off, Kaur crunches it off the back foot, but straight to Bell at short third. Lauren dives to her left and stops it.
Danielle Gibson to Harmanpreet Kaur, WIDE! Far outside off, Kaur shows no interest as the ball breaches the tramline. Jones collects the ball to her right.
Charlie Dean continues to ring in the changes. It is time for a bit of pace as Danielle Gibson is back.
- Harmanpreet Kaur 22 (19)
- Deepti Sharma 7 (7)
Sophie Ecclestone to Harmanpreet Kaur, Touch fuller and on off, Harmanpreet Kaur looks to drive inside out to the off side, but inside edges it through mid-wicket for a run.
Sophie Ecclestone to Harmanpreet Kaur, Pushed through on a fuller length, on middle, Kaur carves it back to Sophie.
Sophie Ecclestone to Deepti Sharma, Two is the call from Deepti, but they will have to settle with just one. Spins in from off, on a fullish length. Deepti Sharma clips it through mid-wicket for a single.
Sophie Ecclestone to Harmanpreet Kaur, Closer to the off stump, on a fuller length. Harmanpreet Kaur plays against the spin towards wide long on for a single.
Sophie Ecclestone to Deepti Sharma, A bit flatter and quicker, on off, Deepti Sharma flicks the full ball to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Sophie Ecclestone to Harmanpreet Kaur, Too full, on the leg stump. Kaur leans on and clips it to backward square leg for a single.
Sophie Ecclestone returns to the attack. She has gone for 16 runs in her two overs so far.
- Harmanpreet Kaur 19 (15)
- Deepti Sharma 5 (5)
Charlie Dean to Harmanpreet Kaur, Full and on middle, Harmanpreet Kaur works this to long on for a single.
Charlie Dean to Harmanpreet Kaur, WIDE! Tries to keep it away from the batter, but it is beyond the tramline. Too full and Kaur misses in carving it away. Wide called.
Charlie Dean to Deepti Sharma, Had to hurry! A direct hit would have definitely made things interesting. Fuller outside off, Deepti pushes it through the left of covers and sets off immediately for a quick single. She has to dive full length to make her ground, but Gibson's shy at the stumps, misses. England have been pretty sharp in the field this evening.
Charlie Dean to Deepti Sharma, On a length, around off, chopped off the back foot to cover by Deepti.
Charlie Dean to Deepti Sharma, In the air, but no timing on that. Lands safe. On a fuller length, around middle. Deepti Sharma advances down the track and lofts it off the toe end of the bat. The ball drops in the vast acreage and just plugs in the outfield in the deep mid-wicket region. Two taken.
Charlie Dean to Harmanpreet Kaur, Dishes out an off-break, on off, Harmanpreet Kaur flicks it through mid-wicket for an easy single.
Charlie Dean to Deepti Sharma, Pitched full on off and middle, Deepti clips it wide of square leg for a single.
Charlie Dean (2-0-18-1) is back.
- Deepti Sharma 1 (1)
- Harmanpreet Kaur 17 (13)
Lauren Bell to Deepti Sharma, Goes short on middle, Deepti controls the pull shot behind square on the leg side for a single.
Lauren Bell answers the skipper's call. She breaks the 40-run stand, and that brings Deepti Sharma out to the middle.
Lauren Bell to Jemimah Rodrigues, OUT! BOWLED! Bell continues to be effective as she breaks a budding partnership. The short one softens her up, and then the leg cutter does the job. Full and slow on the stumps, Jemimah advances and goes for the flick but she yorks herself and the ball beats her on the inside edge to hit the off stump. India Women are 100/4 as Rodrigues departs just when she was looking good to change the gears.
Lauren Bell to Jemimah Rodrigues, FOUR! 100 up for India! Short of a length and angling into the bodyline. Jemimah Rodrigues hops a bit on the toes and pulls it, a bit more off the top edge, but gets it over short fine leg for a boundary.
Lauren Bell to Harmanpreet Kaur, Full again, on middle and leg, clipped across and wide of mid-wicket for a single. Jemimah Rodrigues looks for the second, but there's none on offer and Kaur sends her back.
Lauren Bell to Jemimah Rodrigues, Direct hit at the bowler's end, but no harm done. Full and on off, Jemimah Rodrigues stays leg side and hammers it down to mid off and sets off for a run. Danielle Gibson slides to her right at that position and is quick to release the ball, hitting the bullseye at the non-striker's end, but Rodrigues is quick enough to get home safely before the stumps are hit.
Lauren Bell to Jemimah Rodrigues, Length-delivery, just outside off, Jemimah Rodrigues guides it to short third.
Drinks Break! Despite being reduced to 60/3, losing the top three, India have got themselves back in a very good position. Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur have formed a responsible alliance which the hosts will be keen to break and expose India's vulnerable lower middle order once again. Charlie Dean brings back Lauren Bell in search of a breakthrough. 2-0-22-0 so far for Bell.
- Harmanpreet Kaur 16 (12)
- Jemimah Rodrigues 24 (15)
Linsey Smith to Harmanpreet Kaur, FOUR! Nice use of the angle. Bowled from over the wicket, pushed across the right-hander, on a length. Kaur stays leg side and opens the bat face to carve it wide of backward point for the second boundary of the over. 12 runs off the over, 23 off the last 2. At the halfway mark, India Women are 94/3.
Linsey Smith to Jemimah Rodrigues, Low full toss, on middle. Rodrigues whips it towards wide long on for a single.
Linsey Smith to Harmanpreet Kaur, A bit short, on off. Kaur slaps it to deep cover and rotates the strike.
Linsey Smith to Harmanpreet Kaur, FOUR! Good shot. Fractionally short, on off. Kaur hangs back and cuts it hard, past backward point. Sophia Dunkley covers a lot of ground to her left in the deep but is late to put in the dive and concedes a boundary.
Linsey Smith to Harmanpreet Kaur, Full and around off, pushed to cover by Kaur.
Linsey Smith to Harmanpreet Kaur, Darted in at the blockhole, on off. Kaur digs it out to the left of deep point. The call is for two and Kaur comes charging back for the second run.
Linsey Smith (1-0-9-1) is brought back and she replaces Sophie Ecclestone.
- Harmanpreet Kaur 5 (7)
- Jemimah Rodrigues 23 (14)
Danielle Gibson to Harmanpreet Kaur, Pace off now, angled into the pads, on a length. Kaur turns it square on the leg side for a run.
Danielle Gibson to Jemimah Rodrigues, On top of off, Jemimah chops it in front of backward point and hurries to the other end.
Danielle Gibson to Jemimah Rodrigues, FOUR! Hit hard and wide enough! Gibson drags the length back, over middle and leg. Rodrigues gets the ball at a good height and she climbs into it. Pulls it hard behind square leg and Linsey Smith is beaten to her right despite the dive.
Danielle Gibson to Jemimah Rodrigues, FOUR! Cheeky and effective! Bowled full by Gibson, outside off. Rodrigues shapes up for the scoop but then adjusts to the line of the ball. She stays front-on and angles the ramp fine of short third for a four.
Danielle Gibson to Harmanpreet Kaur, A bit of a mix-up but no harm done. Gibson goes into the surface, over middle and leg. Harmanpreet pulls it to the left of deep fine leg. Rodrigues is keen for the second but is sent back just in time by Kaur before the throw comes in from the deep.
Danielle Gibson to Harmanpreet Kaur, Oh, not far away from the off stump. Honing in on the off pole, on a back of a length. Kaur swivels for the pull but the ball goes under the blade and bounces just enough to go over the timber.
- Jemimah Rodrigues 14 (11)
- Harmanpreet Kaur 3 (4)
Sophie Ecclestone to Jemimah Rodrigues, FOUR! Smart batting! Sophie Ecclestone fires in a full ball, outside off. Rodrigues waits back and uses the pace of the ball. She opens the bat face and glides it to the left of short third for a boundary.
Sophie Ecclestone to Harmanpreet Kaur, Flatter and shorter, on middle and leg. Kaur rocks back and jabs it to the left of deep square leg for one.
Sophie Ecclestone to Jemimah Rodrigues, Keeps it full, around off. Rodrigues backs away to go inside out towards deep cover. They cross.
Sophie Ecclestone to Harmanpreet Kaur, Gives the ball a bit of air, full and wide on off. Harmanpreet hammers it to deep cover and turns the strike over.
Sophie Ecclestone to Harmanpreet Kaur, Slows it down and this is on a good length, in line with the off stump. Kaur stabs it down the strip.
Sophie Ecclestone to Jemimah Rodrigues, Pushed through, full and on leg. Rodrigues flicks it in front of deep mid-wicket. She calls for two but the fielder in the deep keeps the batters down to a single.
Sophie Ecclestone (1-0-8-0) is back on. She replaces Charlie Dean.
- Jemimah Rodrigues 8 (8)
- Harmanpreet Kaur 1 (1)
Danielle Gibson to Jemimah Rodrigues, Pulls the length back, on middle. Jemimah backs away and pulls it towards deep mid-wicket for another single.
That got deflected straight onto her helmet lid. A mandatory concussion test for Harmanpreet Kaur is underway. The physio is out to check her up. She looks alright, nothing much concerning and is good to continue.
Danielle Gibson to Harmanpreet Kaur, Onto the lid! Gibson serves it on a good length, on off. Kaur gets down on a knee for the paddle. It is deflected straight onto the peak of the helmt off the lower half of the blade. Rodrigues calls her skipper through as the ball goes square on the leg side, and they make it.
For India, the England tour is more than just a bilateral assignment. It serves as a crucial rehearsal for the global tournament, allowing the team management to assess combinations and player roles in conditions similar to those expected during the World Cup.
While there have been encouraging signs from the top order, India's batting has lacked consistency in the latter stages of innings. Yastika Bhatia has emerged as the standout performer, scoring a half-century in the first match and backing it up with another useful knock in the second. Jemimah Rodrigues also impressed with a fifty, while Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma looked in good touch during the chase in the previous game.
However, India's inability to finish strongly remains a concern. In the opening match, the team managed only 40 runs in the final five overs despite being well placed earlier in the innings. The second game saw an even bigger collapse, as India stumbled dramatically in the closing stages of a chase after reaching a comfortable position.
As a result, the spotlight will be on experienced all-rounder Deepti Sharma and wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh. India need the pair to provide stability and acceleration in the middle overs. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur, one of the team's most powerful hitters, may also need to bat deeper and guide the innings through to the finish.
England, meanwhile, have their own batting concerns. Amy Jones' 67 is the only fifty scored by an English batter in the series so far. Although several players have made starts, none have been able to produce a match-defining innings. With both sides searching for batting consistency, the final T20I promises to be a closely contested encounter with World Cup implications.
Match Statistics
Venue
The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton
