ENG W vs IND W, 1st Test, Day 3: Hosts enforce follow on as visitors crumble for 231

Day 3 of the one-off Test match between India women and England women has concluded ahead of schedule due to a rain delay with the Indians trailing by 82 runs. England had enforced a follow on after the Indians were bundled out for 231 runs, 165 short of England’s first innings total of 396. The Indians had started quite well on Day 2 and looked set to comfortably surpass that total but it was not to be. The openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma constructed a solid 167-run partnership for the first wicket but the rest of the batting lineup could not capitalize on the start. The second day had ended with 187 runs for the loss of five wickets. Harmanpreeet Kaur and Deepti Sharma were the ones on the crease at the time.

As Day 3 began, it seemed like England had started just where they left off. Shortly after the play’s commencement, Sophie Ecclestone was successful in dismissing Kaur for 4. Deepti Sharma played a decent knock as she remained unbeaten on 29 off 73 deliveries. Wicket-keeper Taniya Bhatia disappointed with the bat as she fell for 0. It was Ecclestone yet again with the wicket.

Although there might have been an almighty batting collapse, nothing can be taken away from the English bowling attack. They looked absolutely unplayable, assisted, no doubt, by home conditions. It is also important to note that Indian cricket sides have always struggled to cope with English conditions. Apart from Sophia Dunkley, every single bowler got a wicket to their name. Ecclestone was the pick as she managed to bag four wickets. Skipper Heather Knight picked up two wickets. Katherine Brunt, Anya Shurbsole, Nat Sciver, and Kate Cross managed to pick one wicket each.

ENGLAND PILES ON THE PRESSURE

With India 165 runs behind England’s initial target of 396, skipper Heather Knight decided to enforce a follow-on. Indian openers Mandhana and Verma, who gave India a brilliant start in the first innings, came out to bat yet again. Unfortunately, Mandhana could not keep her good run for form going as she was dismissed cheaply. She was caught by Sciver off a Brunt delivery. She managed to score eight runs off 13 deliveries.

Shafali Verma, however, managed to pick up right where she left off, as she scored a brilliant half-century. She is currently unbeaten on 55 off 68 deliveries. It was a relatively well-paced innings by the teenager. Deepti Sharma came out to bat at number 3. She is also unbeaten at 18 runs off 66 deliveries. India managed to score 83 runs for the loss of one wicket as the rain started to come down. The day’s play was eventually concluded after a prolonged rain delay.

At this point, it is almost impossible for the Indians to win the match. England will be looking to wrap the second Indian innings as quickly as possible so that they do not get too high a lead.