India vs England Highlights, Women's Cricket World Cup 2022, Full Cricket Score: England open account in tournament with four-wicket victory

Heather Knight: I think we just needed that. Probably a little scrappy towards the end, two more wickets than what we would’ve liked. Hopefully the start of a momentum shift. I thought the mentality of the girls was great. The bowlers were outstanding. It wasn’t an easy pitch. I was desperate to see the girls over the line with the bat, and wanted to finish the game. Congratulations to Goswami for 250 wickets, it’s an honour playing against her.

Mithali Raj: We definitely didn’t have partnerships up the order, and that’s something that didn’t go our way today despite getting what we wanted in the toss. Putting up 200-plus would’ve definitely brought us in the game. Every game as a fielding unit we’ve been doing well, and we hope to continue that. Batting is a concern. (On Australia) We’re playing a side that has not been beaten in our next game, so we really need to improve. (On Goswami) It’s an honour to play alongside her.

Charlotte Dean is the Player of the Match!

Dean: Really happy. We’ve played really well to come back from a few bad games. I was trying to keep it simple, keep it tight along the stumps. When you’re bowling at the other end of Soph, you’re in good hands. She always has some words of wisdom. This is for you (to family).

After 31.2 overs,England Women 136/6 ( Heather Knight (C) 53 , Sophie Ecclestone 5)

FOUR! Sophie Ecclestone hooks a short ball from Meghna Singh to collect the winning boundary, as England open their account in the 2022 ICC Women’s World Cup with a four-wicket win over India with a little under 19 overs to spare! Skipper Heather Knight remains unbeaten on 53, regaining her form with a match-winning knock.

After 31 overs,England Women 131/6 ( Heather Knight (C) 53 , Sophie Ecclestone 1)

Mithali brings Goswami back, hoping to snare another wicket or two. Just two from the over. Meanwhile Harmanpreet appears to have hurt her knee badly while putting in a slide near mid on in the fifth delivery. The physio runs to the ground to assess her knee, and she’s seen hobbling off the pitch thereafter. Two from the over. England need four to win.

After 30 overs,England Women 129/6 ( Heather Knight (C) 52 , Sophie Ecclestone 0)

Outstanding over from Meghna Singh — too bad it didn’t come earlier when India still were in the game. Dunkley and Brunt depart in a space of three balls as Meghna takes her match tally to three. India will want to make England fight hard for the remaining runs.

OUT! Two wickets in three balls for Meghna Singh! Brunt was perhaps looking to level the scores, but got a thick top-edge instead. Easy catch for Richa Ghosh. ENG 128/6

Brunt c Ghosh b Singh 0(2)

OUT! Dunkley attempts to dab the ball towards third man off Meghna, but ends up serving a low catch for keeper Richa Ghosh. England lose their fifth wicket with just seven more needed to win. ENG 128/5

Dunkley c Ghosh b Singh 17(21)

After 29 overs,England Women 128/4 ( Heather Knight (C) 51 , Sophia Dunkley 17)

Dunkley brings the equation down to single figures by charging down the track and lofting the ball over mid off for a boundary in the third delivery. Couple of singles collected in addition to the boundary. Six from the over.

After 28 overs,England Women 122/4 ( Heather Knight (C) 50 , Sophia Dunkley 12)

Knight collects a boundary first ball with a cover drive, and follows it up with a single to complete her 23rd ODI half-century. Dunkley then moves to double figures with back-to-back boundaries to bring the equation down to 13 from 22 overs.

After 27 overs,England Women 109/4 ( Heather Knight (C) 45 , Sophia Dunkley 4)

Gayakwad continues. Dunkley gets off the mark in style in this over, getting down on one knee and clobbering the ball over a leaping Harmanpreet at mid on for a boundary. England’s equation comes down to just 26 off 23 overs.

After 26 overs,England Women 104/4 ( Heather Knight (C) 44 , Sophia Dunkley 0)

Meghna Singh replaces Deepti Sharma, and starts off her new spell with a maiden. Sophia Dunkley, meanwhile has joined Knight at the centre, the latter on 44 at the moment.

After 25 overs,England Women 104/4 ( Heather Knight (C) 44 , Sophia Dunkley 0)

Knight collects a single off the first ball. Jones then dances down the track and smashes the ball over the logoff fence to collect the first six of the innings. Tries to replicate the shot next ball, but doesn’t quite time it and Harmanpreet Kaur pulls off a stunner at mid on to result in England losing their fourth wicket. Nine runs and a wicket from the over. England need 31 more to win.

OUT! Harmanpreet Kaur pulls off a blinder at mid on to dismiss Amy Jones, who was looking for a second consecutive maximum. Jones didn’t quite time this one, but even then it required Kaur to time her jump precisely to be able to hold on to this one. ENG 102/4

Jones c Kaur b Gayakwad 10(28)

After 24 overs,England Women 95/3 ( Heather Knight (C) 41 , Amy Jones (W) 4)

Knight moves to 40 with a firm sweep off Deepti in the penultimate ball. Three singles collected in addition to the boundary. Seven from the over, with England needing just 40 more to win.

After 23 overs,England Women 88/3 ( Heather Knight (C) 35 , Amy Jones (W) 3)

Last throw of the dice from Mithali as Jhulan returns to the attack in the 23rd over. The senior pacer collects her first maiden of the day. Excellent stop by Sneh Rana at cover after a solid punch by Jones.

After 22 overs,England Women 88/3 ( Heather Knight (C) 35 , Amy Jones (W) 3)

FOUR! Knight brings out the reverse sweep in the second delivery, beating the fielder at point to collect her sixth boundary. Two singles collected off the remaining balls, with Amy Jones keeping the strike. Six from the over. Just 47 more needed for England to wrap this up with 28 overs and seven wickets left.

After 21 overs,England Women 82/3 ( Heather Knight (C) 30 , Amy Jones (W) 2)

Jhulan Goswami is back into the attack as India search for quick wickets. She earlier took the wicket of Tammy Beaumont and India are in desperate need of more of her expertise. No wickets in this over but just two singles off it.

After 20 overs,England Women 80/3 ( Heather Knight (C) 29 , Amy Jones (W) 1)

Rajeshwari Gayakwad into the attack. In the fifth ball, Knight collects three runs with Deepti Sharma rushing to save the boundary, Deepti chased from backward point but she was in contact with the boundary rope and the ball as she attempted to stop it. Six off the over.

After 19 overs,England Women 74/3 ( Heather Knight (C) 24 , Amy Jones (W) 0)

FOUR! Knight moves into the 20s with a lovely shot through point. Keeps the scoreboard ticking with a single off a dab towards third man three balls later. Dot to end the over, with five coming from it.

After 18 overs,England Women 69/3 ( Heather Knight (C) 19 , Amy Jones (W) 0)

Excellent over from Rajeshwari, as she collects her first maiden in her fourth over. Keeper-batter Amy Jones joins Knight at the middle after Sciver’s wicket.

After 17 overs,England Women 69/3 ( Heather Knight (C) 19 , Amy Jones (W) 0)

Pooja Vastrakar returns. Both Knight and Sciver collect a boundary each, the latter moving to 45 with a flick over midwicket in the penultimate ball. She departs just five short of her half-century though, getting a top-edge that results in an easy catch for mid on. Nine from the over along with a wicket. Sciver’s wicket comes as a sliver of hope for the Women in Blue. But they need a burst of two-three wickets to stay in the game.

OUT! Just when Sciver was starting to charge towards her half-century, she’s undone by the variable bounce as she tamely chips the ball towards mid on. Goswami settles under the ball and grabs the sitter. ENG 69/3

Sciver c Goswami b Vastrakar 45(46)

After 16 overs,England Women 60/2 ( Heather Knight (C) 14 , Natalie Sciver 41)

Gayakwad returns on the other side of the drinks break. Just one from the over, with Knight collecting a single off the penultimate delivery, the skipper moving to 14. Sciver, meanwhile, is just nine short of her fifty at the moment.

After 15 overs,England Women 59/2 ( Heather Knight (C) 13 , Natalie Sciver 41)

Three singles collected in the first four balls before Sciver brings up the fifty stand for the third wicket with back-to-back hits to the fence off Sneh Rana, guiding the ball towards either side of the wicket. Time for the players to have a drink at the end of this over.

FOUR! Nat Sciver gets down on one knee and swings her arms to bring up the fifty partnership with Heather Knight with a sweep through square leg. ENG 55/2

After 14 overs,England Women 48/2 ( Heather Knight (C) 11 , Natalie Sciver 32)

FOUR! Muscled through the midwicket region by Sciver off a short of length ball from Vastrakar. Five from the over, with Knight having collected a single in the third delivery.

After 13 overs,England Women 43/2 ( Heather Knight (C) 10 , Natalie Sciver 28)

Sneh Rana, quite the useful option for the Indians when it comes to getting breakthroughs in middle overs, is introduced in the 13th over. Sciver and Knight collect a single each as the offie concedes two in her first over.

After 12 overs,England Women 41/2 ( Heather Knight (C) 9 , Natalie Sciver 27)

Vastrakar bowls a wide far down off in the second delivery. Sciver then works the ball through point for a single two balls later. Two from the over. The game has been slipping away from India’s grasp for a while now and they desperately need a couple of wickets if they are to defend such a modest target.

After 11 overs,England Women 39/2 ( Heather Knight (C) 9 , Natalie Sciver 26)

Sciver collects a couple of doubles — a sweep towards fine leg in the first delivery followed by a late dab towards third man two balls later. She keeps the strike with a single off the last ball, sweeping towards deep square leg. Five from the over.

After 10 overs,England Women 34/2 ( Heather Knight (C) 9 , Natalie Sciver 21)

Change from both ends with Pooja Vastrakar replacing Meghna Singh. She off to a tidy start, conceding just one off her first over. England end the powerplay on 34/2, with Sciver and Knight having build a healthy third-wicket stand so far. Unless India are able to break this stand, England could finish this in a canter thanks to these two.

After 9 overs,England Women 33/2 ( Heather Knight (C) 9 , Natalie Sciver 20)

FOUR! Rajeshwari Gayakwad’s off to a shaky start as Sciver sweeps a full delivery behind square for a boundary in the second ball. The left-arm spinner’s guilty of committing the same mistake three balls later, and is met with another sweep, this time over square leg. Sciver keeps the strike with a single off the last ball. Nine from the over.

After 8 overs,England Women 24/2 ( Heather Knight (C) 9 , Natalie Sciver 11)

Three singles from the over as Knight and Sciver slowly rebuild after the early exits for the openers. Fine stop by Harmanpreet at mid on in the fifth ball to restrict Sciver to just a single. India have matched England in terms of fielding so far today.

After 7 overs,England Women 21/2 ( Heather Knight (C) 8 , Natalie Sciver 9)

Sciver collects a single off the second delivery. Three balls later, Knight decides to punish Goswami for bowling another short-of-length ball, pulling authoritatively towards deep square leg to collect her second boundary.

After 6 overs,England Women 16/2 ( Heather Knight (C) 4 , Natalie Sciver 8)

Meghna continues to build pressure from her end, collecting her second maiden in three overs as Knight opts to remain on the defensive side.

Just keeps elevating her standards

Jhulan Goswami becomes the first ever player to take 250 wickets in Women's ODIs.

Most wickets:
250 - Jhulan Goswami 🇮🇳
180 - Cathryn Fitzpatrick 🇦🇺
180 - Anisa Mohammed 🏝️
168 - Shabnim Ismail 🇿🇦
164 - Katherine Brunt 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿#CWC22 #INDvENG

— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) March 16, 2022

After 5 overs,England Women 16/2 ( Heather Knight (C) 4 , Natalie Sciver 8)

Now new batter Nat Sciver gets into the boundary-scoring act, collecting a couple of them in this over. She’s also lucky to escape getting bowled in the fourth ball after a bat-shoe deflection towards the stumps, the bails refusing to dislodge in the end. Eight from Goswami’s third over.

After 4 overs,England Women 8/2 ( Heather Knight (C) 4 , Natalie Sciver 0)

FOUR! Heather Knight collects the first boundary of the innings with a crisp cover drive off the penultimate ball of the over. That should release some of the pressure.

After 3 overs,England Women 4/2 ( Heather Knight (C) 0 , Natalie Sciver 0)

Goswami starts off with a wide down the leg side first ball, but keeps things tight for the next four balls. Appeal for LBW is turned down in the final ball but Mithali pushes for the review — and is rewarded in the form of Beaumont’s wicket as England find themselves two down for just four runs. This could turn out to be a low-scoring thriller after all!

After 2 overs,England Women 3/1 ( Tammy Beaumont 1 , Heather Knight (C) 0)

Meghna Singh bowls from the other end, and starts off with a wicket maiden, getting rid of Danny Wyatt first ball. Skipper Heather Knight joins the in-form Beaumont at the centre, and also edges the ball towards slip — only this time the ball lands well short of Rana. Looks like there is some hope for the Indians after all.

OUT! Meghna Singh with the early breakthrough, and boy will that work wonders for their confidence! The ball kicks up higher than usual and takes Wyatt by surprise, getting the thick outside edge. And top effort by Rana as well to complete a superb catch at slip. ENG 3/1

Wyatt c Rana b Meghna 1(3)

After 1 over,England Women 3/0 ( Tammy Beaumont 1 , Danni Wyatt 1)

Goswami starts off with a dot followed by a wide down the leg side — which opens England’s account in the process. First run off the bat is collected two balls later with a single to Beaumont. Wyatt follows suit two balls later, working the ball towards cover for a single. Three from the first over.

India get into a quick huddle, Mithali Raj giving one final pep talk before they make their way out to the centre. India’s body language certainly has taken a hit after that batting display, though that still can change with an early wicket or two. For England, a start similar to the one Dottin and Matthews had provided on Saturday should seal the deal. Beaumont and Wyatt to open as usual, with Goswami bowling the first over.

After 36.2 overs,India Women 134/10 ( Rajeshwari Gayakwad 1 , )

India fail to bat out the second powerplay, getting bundled out for their lowest World Cup total in more than a decade thanks to a shambolic batting display by Mithali and Co. Dean, meanwhile, caps off an outstanding day in office with her fourth wicket after getting rid of Meghna. While still a tricky surface for the batters, England should comfortably collect their first win of the campaign today.

BOWLED! Charlotte Dean completes the formalities and signs off with excellent figures of 4/23 as India are bowled out for a paltry 134 after being asked to bat by England on a dry Bay Oval wicket! Meghna looks for the sweep, and misses completely to get her stumps rattled.

Meghna b Dean 3(12)

After 36 overs,India Women 133/9 ( Meghna Singh 3 , Rajeshwari Gayakwad 0)

Sophie Ecclestone returns, hoping to close the innings out. Bowls a wide down the leg side in the final delivery, and is followed by a brace to Meghna in the last ball.

After 35 overs,India Women 130/9 ( Meghna Singh 1 , Rajeshwari Gayakwad 0)

Knight continues, conceding just one from the over with Meghna Singh getting off the mark. Meghna and last batter Rajeshwari Gayakwad will hope to guide India past the 150-mark, the practical target for them at the moment.

After 34 overs,India Women 129/9 ( Meghna Singh 0 , Rajeshwari Gayakwad 0)

What an over! Both Ghosh and Goswami are gone in a space of six deliveries, the former getting run out while the latter departs right after collecting her second boundary. Six runs and a wicket off Cross’ third over.

OUT! Both set batters depart in a space of a few deliveries, as Goswami hits the ball straight to point at a comfortable catching height to depart for 20. India one wicket away from getting bowled out. IND 126/9

Goswami c Wyatt b Cross 20(26)

OUT! Ghosh is run out just when she was starting to set her sights on a maiden World Cup fifty. Another direct hit at the non-striker’s end from mid off, this time Natalie Sciver the fielder, and Ghosh is ultimately caught short of her crease. She had taken a couple of steps forward and had to make a last-minute dash back to her end after her call for a single was rejected. IND 123/8

Ghosh run out (Sciver) 33(56)

After 33 overs,India Women 123/7 ( Richa Ghosh (W) 33 , Jhulan Goswami 16)

The skipper decides to have a bowl on the other side of the drinks break, and starts off on a tidy note, conceding three singles. Partnership’s worth 37 now, and might just be worrying England a little at the moment.

After 32 overs,India Women 120/7 ( Richa Ghosh (W) 32 , Jhulan Goswami 14)

Big over for the Indians, as the Ghosh-Goswami stand crosses the 30-run mark. Goswami collects the first boundary of the innings with a majestic strike over long off in the third ball, before Ghosh moves into the 30s herself with an outside edge that runs away to the vacant third man fence for a boundary two balls later. 12 from the over, and the players will have a drink now.

After 31 overs,India Women 108/7 ( Richa Ghosh (W) 27 , Jhulan Goswami 7)

FOUR! Drilled down the ground by Goswami off Dean! The fielder at mid on put in a dive in vain as this was struck firmly. Five from Dean’s eighth, with Ghosh having collected a single off the third.

After 30 overs,India Women 103/7 ( Richa Ghosh (W) 26 , Jhulan Goswami 3)

England finally move away from their plan of spin from both ends as Kate Cross, who has been excellent in the middle overs, replaces Ecclestone. Ghosh, meanwhile, brings up the 100 for the Indians with an aerial drive over mid off in the fourth delivery, before keeping the strike with a single off the last ball.

After 29 overs,India Women 98/7 ( Richa Ghosh (W) 21 , Jhulan Goswami 3)

Another two-run over for the Indians, with Ghosh and Goswami collecting a single each in Dean’s seventh over.

After 28 overs,India Women 96/7 ( Richa Ghosh (W) 20 , Jhulan Goswami 2)

Couple of runs added to the Indian total as the Women in Blue inch closer to the 100-mark, with Ghosh and Goswami collecting a single each. Ghosh, meanwhile, is batting on 20 and will be hoping to stick around till the end.

After 27 overs,India Women 94/7 ( Richa Ghosh (W) 19 , Jhulan Goswami 1)

Tidy over from Dean with just one coming from it in the form of a single to Ghosh in the last delivery. She’s bowled a gem of a spell so far with figures of 6-1-15-3.

After 26 overs,India Women 93/7 ( Richa Ghosh (W) 18 , Jhulan Goswami 1)

FOUR! Ghosh continues to attack the spinners, dancing down the ground and lofting the ball over extra cover in the penultimate ball of Ecclestone’s seventh over. She then keeps the strike with a single off the last ball.

After 25 overs,India Women 88/7 ( Richa Ghosh (W) 13 , Jhulan Goswami 1)

Dean appeals successfully for LBW first ball of her fifth over, but Vastrakar, who is struck just above her foot while looking for a flick, manages to overturn it with impact well outside off. And yet she finds a way to get struck on the pad just two balls later, this time right in front of middle and this time even the review can’t save her. India are seven down now, and Jhulan Goswami finds herself at the crease at the halfway mark in the innings, instead of the slog overs that she’s accustomed to.

OUT! Vastrakar had overturned an LBW decision just two balls earlier, but this time is struck plumb in front of middle while attempting to short-arm pull a fullish delivery from Dean towards fine leg. Goes for the review again, and this time burns it by getting three reds on HawkEye. IND 86/7

Vastrakar LBW Dean 6(9)

After 24 overs,India Women 86/6 ( Richa Ghosh (W) 12 , Pooja Vastrakar 6)

Vastrakar collects a single off the second ball, before Richa Ghosh cuts hard four balls later to collect her second boundary of the innings. Five from the over. Ghosh starting to give India a ray of hope here with her little cameo.

After 23 overs,India Women 81/6 ( Richa Ghosh (W) 8 , Pooja Vastrakar 5)

A good over for the Indians, with nine coming from it. Vastrakar collects a brace off the first ball, which is followed by a single off each of the next three balls. Ghosh then breaks the shackles by stepping out of the crease and smacking the ball over long off.

After 22 overs,India Women 72/6 ( Richa Ghosh (W) 3 , Pooja Vastrakar 1)

Mandhana breaks the shackles by charging down the ground and lofting the ball over mid off for a boundary. Ecclestone though, strikes two balls later by trapping her LBW. Pooja Vastrakar is the new batter in, and she gets off the mark with a single. Five runs and a wicket from the over.

OUT! Ecclestone gets Mandhana, and that’s a body blow to India’s hopes! Is struck on the knee roll on the front pad while getting down on one knee and going for an expansive sweep. The umpire raises her finger right away, and Mandhana’s quick to take the review. Impact is umpire’s call, and the ball is found to be hitting the top of off. India’s hopes of crossing 200 just took a massive hit. IND 71/6

Mandhana LBW Ecclestone 35(58)

After 21 overs,India Women 67/5 ( Smriti Mandhana 31 , Richa Ghosh (W) 3)

Mandhana collects a single with a drive past mid off in the second ball. Ghosh then struggles her way through the remainder of Dean’s third over. Ghosh hasn’t been in the best of form in the World Cup so far, and is taking her time in getting settled at the crease.

After 20 overs,India Women 66/5 ( Smriti Mandhana 30 , Richa Ghosh (W) 3)

Maiden over for Ecclestone — her first of the day — as Ghosh pokes the ball around without looking to set off for a run. India going at over three-an-over at the moment, and can still set a competitive target in excess of 200 if Mandhana is able to build partnerships with Ghosh, Vastrakar and the rest of the batting order. England, though, will back themselves to restrict India to less than 150 if they can get Mandhana now.

After 19 overs,India Women 66/5 ( Smriti Mandhana 30 , Richa Ghosh (W) 3)

Another tidy over from Dean with just two coming from it, Mandhana and Ghosh collecting a single each. England’s body language meanwhile, is a lot more positive today.

After 18 overs,India Women 64/5 ( Smriti Mandhana 29 , Richa Ghosh (W) 2)

Ecclestone continues, with Knight opting for spin from both ends. Mandhana collects a single off the second ball, with Richa Ghosh getting off the mark with a brace three balls later. Three from the over.

After 17 overs,India Women 61/5 ( Smriti Mandhana 28 , Richa Ghosh (W) 0)

What a bowling change for England! Heather Knight brings offie Charlie Dean into the attack in place of Nat Sciver, looking to break the fourth-wicket stand that is starting to look a tad dangerous now, and she responds with a double-wicket maiden to begin what is just her second World Cup appearance!

OUT! Two wickets in three balls for Charlotte Dean in her first over of the day, in only her second World Cup appearance, and this time it’s Sneh Rana who has to depart for a two-ball duck after getting caught-behind. Unlike Kaur though, Rana was attempting a full-blooded drive. IND 61/5

Rana c Jones b Dean 0(2)

OUT! Huge wicket for England with partnership getting broken before it can cause any further damage as Charlotte Dean gets Harmanpreet Kaur caught-behind in her second delivery of the day. IND 61/4

Kaur c Jones b Dean 14(26)

After 16 overs,India Women 61/3 ( Smriti Mandhana 28 , Harmanpreet Kaur 14)

Three singles from Ecclestone’s second over. Excellent stop by Tammy Beaumont at point in the fifth delivery to save a single. Beaumont had pulled off a couple of fine saves at fine leg in the 13th over, and has been been England’s finest fielder so far today.

After 15 overs,India Women 58/3 ( Smriti Mandhana 27 , Harmanpreet Kaur 12)

Sciver continues on the other side of the drinks break, with three coming from the over including a wide and a leg bye.

After 14 overs,India Women 55/3 ( Smriti Mandhana 26 , Harmanpreet Kaur 12)

Shrubsole’s given a break after a six-over opening spell, with England opting to bring their premier bowler in Sophie Ecclestone into the attack. The left-arm spinner starts off on a tidy note, conceding just a single. Time for the players to have a drink.

After 13 overs,India Women 54/3 ( Smriti Mandhana 25 , Harmanpreet Kaur 12)

Kaur collects her second boundary in as many overs, this time with a lot more authority as she leans into an full delivery and drives through the cover region. Works the ball towards fine leg next ball for a brace. An under-pressure Sciver then ends up bowling three wides. 10 from the over, including a single to Mandhana first ball.

After 12 overs,India Women 44/3 ( Smriti Mandhana 24 , Harmanpreet Kaur 6)

FOUR! Kaur collects her first boundary of the innings with an outside edge that travels all the way to the third man fence off Shrubsole’s bowling in the penultimate ball of this over. Five from this over, including a leg bye off the first delivery.

After 11 overs,India Women 39/3 ( Smriti Mandhana 24 , Harmanpreet Kaur 2)

Tidy second over for Shrubsole with two singles coming from it. Mandhana, meanwhile, is fairly well set at the moment on 24, collecting three boundaries in the 34 deliveries that she’s faced so far.

After 10 overs,India Women 37/3 ( Smriti Mandhana 23 , Harmanpreet Kaur 1)

A pressure-releasing boundary for Mandhana in this over with a lovely cover drive off Shrubsole in the penultimate ball of the first powerplay. Shrubsole follows that with a wide down the leg side. Mandhana then collects a brace off the last ball by clipping the ball through square leg for a brace. Seven from the over. Has been England’s powerplay all the way. India in dire need of a partnership to mount a comeback. Losing another wicket, especially that of Mandhana, and they might find it very difficult to set a target in excess of 250 thereafter.

After 9 overs,India Women 30/3 ( Smriti Mandhana 17 , Harmanpreet Kaur 1)

First bowling change of the innings, with Katherine Brunt being replaced by her life partner Nat Sciver, who is off to a tidy start by conceding just two. Both Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur collect a single each, the latter getting off the mark after arriving at the crease at No 5.

After 8 overs,India Women 28/3 ( Smriti Mandhana 16 , )

Deepti defends her way through the first four balls of Shrubsole’s fourth over, before going for a wild swing in the fifth, failing to make contact with the ball. Itching to get off the mark, she pushes off for a risky single after driving towards mid off, and is caught well short thanks to a direct hit by Kate Cross, departing for a 10-ball duck. A run and a wicket from the over, with India in serious trouble at the moment.

OUT! Deepti pushes for a risky single in the final delivery of the eighth over, and is caught well short of the non-striker’s end thanks to a superb direct hit by Kate Cross at mid off. She departs for a 10-ball duck, with India in serious trouble at the moment. IND 28/3

Deepti run out (Cross) 0(10)

After 7 overs,India Women 27/2 ( Smriti Mandhana 16 , Deepti Sharma 0)

The wickets tumbling off Shrubsole’s bowling allows Brunt to regain her rhythm at the other end. Tidy over from the senior seamer, with just two coming off it as Mandhana collects a brace off the second ball.

After 6 overs,India Women 25/2 ( Smriti Mandhana 14 , Deepti Sharma 0)

Shrubsole further tightens England’s grip in the first powerplay with a wicket maiden, removing Mithali Raj in the second delivery of this over as the India skipper chips the ball towards cover, collecting her 101st ODI wicket in the process. Deepti Sharma joins Mandhana at the centre with the Women in Blue in a spot of bother.

OUT! Mithali Raj endures another disappointing outing with the bat, and the pressure on the India skipper continues to grow. Mithali chips the ball towards cover, where Sophia Dunkley takes a fine, low catch to help Shrubsole collect her second wicket of the powerplay. IND 25/2

Raj c Dunkley b Shrubsole 1(5)

After 5 overs,India Women 25/1 ( Smriti Mandhana 14 , Mithali Raj (C) 1)

FOUR! Mandhana helps herself to another boundary with a short-arm jab towards long leg in the first delivery of Brunt’s third over. Brunt then bowls a wide down the leg side, before collecting three dots in a row. Another pull by Mandhana in the fifth ball, this time the opener collecting a single. Mithali gets off the mark with a single off the last delivery. Seven from the over.

After 4 overs,India Women 18/1 ( Smriti Mandhana 9 , Mithali Raj (C) 0)

Mandhana collects her first boundary with a lovely cover drive off the first ball, and gets off strike with a single two balls later. Shrubsole then gets rid of Bhatia in the fourth delivery, the latter getting a faint inside edge while looking for a drive, bringing skipper Mithali Raj to the crease. Ideal start for England after opting to bowl.

OUT! Anya Shrubsole gets the early breakthrough, and completes 100 ODI wickets in the process! Bhatia departs after a steady start, getting a faint inside edge onto her stumps. IND 18/1

Bhatia b Shrubsole 8

After 3 overs,India Women 13/0 ( Smriti Mandhana 4 , Yastika Bhatia 8)

Mandhana collects a single first ball. Bhatia thereafter pokes the ball around for three deliveries before collecting the first boundary of the innings in the penultimate delivery with a gentle push through the gap between mid on and midwicket. She clips the ball behind square in the last ball for a brace. Good over for the Indians with seven coming from it.

After 2 overs,India Women 6/0 ( Smriti Mandhana 3 , Yastika Bhatia 2)

Anya Shrubsole operates from the other end. Mandhana gets off the mark with a cover drive first ball of the over, coming back for a second, and collects a single off the last delivery to keep the strike. Tidy starts for both frontline seamers.

After 1 over,India Women 3/0 ( Smriti Mandhana 0 , Yastika Bhatia 2)

Smriti Mandhana’s nearly run out after being struck on her thigh first ball; she’s busy ball-watching and is late to notice her partner dash off for a single and while making a hurried sprint to the non-striker’s end, is nearly run out as the throw narrowly misses the stumps. First runs off the bat are collected two balls later with a brace off Yastika Bhatia’s bat. Three from the first over.

Katherine Brunt starts off with the ball in her hand after the national anthems are sung. Mandhana and Bhatia open for the Indian team as usual, the Women in Blue sticking to the latter instead of Shafali.

It’s a great achievement for me, and I always want to do well for my team. Now I’ve more greedy and want more," says India vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who has three World Cup tons to her name now, in a chat with the broadcasters ahead of start of play.

Sanjay Manjrekar and Lydia Greenway analyse the Bay Oval pitch for today’s game:

SM: Different pitch today. The one that we have today is like a brand new car. Pristine. Won’t change too much. The ground dimensions have changed. The off side gets longer batting from the Mount End.

LG: New wicket, very similar features to what we’ve seen so far. Dry, not much grass, so not much pace on offer. So the seamers have to bowl extra hard. With England bowling first, Katherine Brunt and Anya Shrubsole will be looking for the best lengths to bowl on this wicket.

Teams:

India: Yastika Bhatia, Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Mithali Raj (c), Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh (wk), Sneh Rana, Pooja Vastrakar, Jhulan Goswami, Meghna Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad

England: Tammy Beaumont, Danielle Wyatt, Heather Knight (c), Natalie Sciver, Amy Ellen Jones (wk), Sophia Dunkley, Katherine Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Kate Cross, Charlotte Dean, Anya Shrubsole

Mithali Raj: We would’ve batted, because as she (Knight) said, it’s on the drier side. We’re unchanged. We would like to be consistent in what we do, and that’s benefitted the team. The sort of exposure this team has and having a lot of players who play the Big Bash League, putting that experience to use is what is needed.

Heather Knight: No change in our XI. We’re going to come out fighting and do what we do well. It’s always pressure in the World Cups, but we’re hundred percent still in it.

TOSS: England win the toss, and skipper Heather Knight opts to bowl

Women’s World Cup points table: England five places below India

The wide gulf between the performances produced by 2017 World Cup winners England and runners-up India in the 2022 edition so far reflects in their position on the points table at the moment: India occupy the third spot with two wins in three games along with a Net Run Rate (+1.33) that’s second only to Australia. England, meanwhile, are on the verge of being handed the knockout punch after three losses in as many games, sitting at seventh just ahead of Pakistan, who have lost all four of their matches so far.

England ’not playing best cricket’: Hussain

Former England men’s captain Nasser Hussain expressed his disappointment over the women’s team’s title defence getting off to the worst possible start with three losses in as many games, including a three-wicket loss to South Africa on Monday that was their first World Cup defeat against the Proteas in more than two decades.

“Played three and lost three, all close games, they’ve got a lot of work to do. They can have no complaints, they’re not playing their best cricket,” said Hussain.

Important to continue playing like we did against West Indies: Harmanpreet

“We got a great partnership while batting and also the way we bowled in partnerships we want to continue that against England and in the upcoming matches,” said vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who struck a vital 109 against West Indies, on the eve of India’s fourth match of the tournament against England.

India and England find themselves at the opposite ends of the spectrum at the moment. Barring a defeat against hosts New Zealand, India have exhibited the traits of a worthy semi-final contender in their wins over Pakistan and West Indies.

England, on the other hand, are one of the two sides yet to win a game in the ongoing tournament, losing all three matches that they’ve played so far.

Amit Banerjee previews the India-England encounter. Click here to read

Hello and welcome to the coverage of the 15th match of the Women’s World Cup 2022 between India and England in Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui. Match starts at 6.30 am IST with toss taking place at 6 am. Follow this space for live scores and updates