‘We all remembered the World Cup final’ – Smriti Mandhana
The three-match one-day international series between India and England, the first time the two teams are facing off since the memorable ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 final, was expected to be a closely-fought affair, and the opening encounter certainly lived up to the billing.
In a game that ebbed and flowed all the way through, India’s last-wicket pair of Poonam Yadav and Ekta Bisht held their nerves to take their team to a thrilling one-wicket win on Friday 6 April in Nagpur.
Having restricted England to 207, India, led by Smriti Mandhana's fluent 109-ball 86, were cruising at 166/3 in the 36th over. Then came the collapse as India lost six wickets for just 24 runs but Bisht (12*) and Yadav (7*) ensured that there was no repeat of the World Cup final where India had frittered away the advantage by losing their last seven wickets for just 28 runs to go down by 9 runs.
Mithali Raj, the India captain who became the most capped player in WODIs on the day, admitted that the memories of Lord’s did come rushing back.
“Yeah, it did, because at one point we needed 35 (37) runs and that's when Smriti got out. But we still had five wickets in hand. I think what the tail did not manage at the World Cup final they managed to do today,” said Raj.
“Quite proud of Poonam and Ekta Bisht, who held their nerves at crucial times and got us through. It was an eye-opener for all of us to know that though we have a top order in place we require a lower middle-order and the tail to contribute in such games where we get a start but somewhere in the middle overs if we lose back-to-back wickets it is important that the bowlers score runs.”
Raj was also effusive in her praise of Yadav’s bowling – the leg-spinner returned 4/30 as Bisht got 3/49 to put the skids on England.
“Poonam bowled really well, got us the back into the game,” said Raj. “At one point when the England openers were going really well, she got us those three wickets in a couple of overs, and that put the brakes on the runs.”
Anya Shrubsole, the hero of that World Cup final, was captaining England for the first time in the injury-enforced absence of Heather Knight and said that she was proud of the way her team fought right till the end.
“Brilliant game of cricket and credit to India for the way that they have played,” Shrubsole said. “Really proud of the girls the way they stuck in and almost got the noses ahead at the end but it sets up nicely for the rest of the series.
“We always knew that it was going to be easier to bat with the new ball and Tammy (Beaumont) and Dannielle (Wyatt) did brilliantly there. It was always going to get harder against their quality spinners with the ball getting older and that is what it showed, I think for both innings. It was really difficult for the new batters to start, but again we fought so hard to get a total we could bowl at and it was almost enough.”
Mandhana has been in the form of her life of late. In her last seven ODIs, the Indian opener has scored four half-centuries and one century, a 129-ball 135 against South Africa earlier this year. She was also the brightest spark in an otherwise moderate tri-nation Twenty20 International series against Australia and England last month, cracking three half-centuries in four outings.
“I have been timing the ball really well in the nets and that is what I have been applying in the match also,” noted Mandhana. “My coach always says that whenever you are in good form you have to make it count because when the runs are not coming that time the scores should speak.
"It was a very different innings for me. I have never played this slow ever in my life, but I had to play according to the condition. We were chasing 207, so I thought it was really important for me to bat throughout. Being a left-hander it would be hard for the other bowlers to bowl on a length.”
Mandhana admitted being tense towards the end. “Everyone was nervous today. Generally, Mithali di is very calm, but today even she was a bit nervous, we were all remembering the World Cup final. The way Poonam and Ekta di finished it was brilliant.”
The second ODI will be staged at the same venue on Monday 9 April.