Despite a few hiccups, England managed to clinch a 4-wicket win against India in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 match in Mount Maunganui. Chasing a small target of 135 runs, England lost a couple of early wickets and were reduced to 4/2 before Heather Knight and Natalie Sciver came in for the side’s rescue.
The two batters stitched a stand of 65 runs for the third wicket. Sciver was then sent back in the hut by Pooja Vastrakar for 45 off 46. Knight was joined by Amy Ellen Jones in the middle and the two batters once again rebuilt the innings for the side with a partnership of 33 runs for the fourth wicket.
But Jones’ departure for a personal score of 10 off 28 was followed by the fall of couple of more wickets in quick succession but that didn’t really stop England from going over the line eventually. Knight returned unbeaten at 53 off 72.
Singh was the pick of the bowlers for India after she picked three wickets for 26 runs in 7.2 overs.
Earlier, in the day, India were bowled out for 134 after Charlotte Dean rattled the batting unit and returned with a four-wicket haul. Opener Smriti Mandhana top-scored with 35 off 58 while wicket-keeper batsman Richa Ghosh chipped in with 33 off 56.
“We definitely didn't have partnerships and it didn't go our way despite getting what we wanted after losing the toss. When you lose you always think you are short on runs. Getting 200 could have had the match go either way. Every game we've done well as a fielding unit. It is a department where we have improved. We need to work very hard with our batting,” Mithali said after the match.