England suffered a major loss in their Test match against India as they were dismissed for 131 runs in the second innings, resulting in India winning with a day and a half to spare. India’s victory by a margin of 347 runs is the largest in women’s Test cricket by runs and brings into question England’s development under Jon Lewis following their humiliating defeat in the T20 series against Sri Lanka in September.

Deepti Sharma claimed four more wickets, bringing her total to nine for 39 in the match – the highest number achieved by an Indian spinner in a women’s Test. Pooja Vastrakar also contributed greatly with three wickets for 23 runs, including the crucial dismissal of Nat Sciver-Brunt, who was bowled out for a score of zero.

England’s batsmen, who are known for their aggressive approach, were unable to adapt to the slow-paced game and succumbed to impatience. Sophia Dunkley was caught by gully off Vastrakar’s delivery, Amy Jones was caught at midwicket while attempting a pull shot, and Sophie Ecclestone repeatedly failed to execute the sweep shot and eventually fell to Rajeshwari Gayakwad.

Heather Knight had a positive attitude towards the defeat. The captain acknowledged that none of the team had previous experience playing a Test match at this venue. With only two days to prepare, they were doing their best to adjust in the moment. Despite the loss, they gained valuable knowledge and if they were to have another Test match here in the future, they would be more prepared.

Playing cricket in India is a unique experience that tests a player’s skills and reveals areas for improvement. The extreme conditions force players to adapt and develop new strategies against various bowlers.

India’s captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, declared the team’s overnight score of 44 not out. England had a strong start, with Dunkley using a scoop shot and Tammy Beaumont attacking Sneh Rana for a partnership of 28 runs. However, in the third over, Renuka Singh successfully got past Beaumont’s defence with a ball that straightened and hit the off stump.

In the 10th over, Vastrakar entered the game and quickly took two wickets by dismissing Dunkley and Sciver-Brunt on back-to-back deliveries. The delivery that got Sciver-Brunt out was a skillful one that moved off the seam, while Knight was able to score three boundaries in a single over from Renuka. However, Vastrakar demonstrated her expertise in seam movement by skillfully guiding the ball away from the England captain, causing her to edge it and be caught by the keeper.

Knight praised Pooja’s exceptional performance and noted that it serves as a valuable lesson for their bowlers on how to effectively bowl in similar conditions.

After four balls, Danni Wyatt was eliminated by Deepti for the second time in the game by pushing to slip. In the next over, Jones was caught out at midwicket against the off-spinner, allowing India to move on to the lower order.

Kate Cross and Lauren Bell both hit four boundaries, adding some excitement to the game. However, Lauren Filer was caught out for a score of zero when she charged towards the pitch, giving Deepti her ninth wicket of the match. England’s batting lineup was quickly dismissed within 28 overs, even before lunch was served. The only player to hold out against the strong attack was Charlie Dean, who remained unbeaten with a score of 20.

Knight stated that there was an improvement in the team’s mindset during the second half of the game. They discussed their goal of scoring runs and putting pressure on the bowlers, while also being strategic in their approach by selecting which balls to attack and defend, and identifying their most effective scoring strategies. Despite their efforts, they were unable to fully execute their game plan today.

She stated that England did not regret their choice to choose an additional seam bowler instead of a batter, even though it seemed to have a negative impact when they were dismissed for a low score in both innings. “It was a difficult decision to make,” she explained. “But in India’s second innings, I was pleased to have an extra bowler.”

India’s victory comes at a perfect time, especially considering they have another Test match against Australia starting on Thursday. This is a rare occurrence in women’s cricket. After securing their first home Test win in almost a decade, they are highly likely to achieve another one as well.

Source: theguardian.com