Posted by India dominate the key passage of play. England would have expected a win but an Indian pair deny.
Final day of the test match saw India out with some positive intent. Overcast as usual and lights on. Deepti and Shafali make their way. Kate Cross with the ball in hand and completes her remaining 2 deliveries from the yesterday’s rain affected over and spin for other end so, Ecclestone it is. Shrubsole replaces Kate Cross so, just the completion over from Kate.
Shots from Deepti and Shafali look real positive sign for India. Shafali fails to dispatch a full toss and Brunt makes good ground to take a screamer and it’s Ecclestone with the wicket. Punam Raut is in and off the mark, first ball. Deepti Sharma continues to impress with the bat. English bowlers be it spin or pace have been very controlled and disciplined, hardly a bad one. A very good half century for Deepti and India take with the lead now. Minutes before lunch Deepti throws her wicket to Ecclestone on 54, but has been a very good display. Mithali Raj, the Indian skipper makes her way to the middle, off the mark with a boundary and that’s all as she departs to a beauty from the spinner, Ecclestone.
Harmanpreet Kaur joins Punam Raut. Punam Raut hasn’t looked too comfortable post lunch and has thrown her wicket to the plan English vice captain had set, short ball and tucks one straight to Ecclestone and she ain’t doing any wrong, from the other end Sciver has bowled her heart out, has been a fantastic spell with that Punam Raut wicket as a reward to her name. India losing control with a lead of 10 India have 5 wickets in hand. Another gamble from India as Pooja comes in, going well has hit Ecclestone for 3 boundaries in an over and nothing added post as she departs to a beauty from the Skipper, Knight. Sneh Rana makes her way. Harmanpreet Kaur had a few hits dispatching a few bad balls and then departs looking to sweep one of Ecclestone on 8. Shikha Pandey in next, Taniya yet in the dugout. Shikha and Sneh take charge and get the scoreboard ticking, lead now of 46 and England opt for the new ball.
New ball bowlers start now, Brunt and Shrubsole. Sneh Rana getting the boundaries, Shikha doing well to rotate strike, these will be bonus for India. 41 runs added in that key partnership and English vice captain opens back a window for her side to make a comeback as Shikha departs for 17 it’s been a good stay by Shikha. Taniya Bhatia finally makes her way, yet to get off the mark in test cricket and has the 1 to her name.
Partnership building very well between the pair. Runs flowing for India and now the leads of 100. Sneh Rana gets to her maiden 50* on test debut, Taniya trusting her game is driving well. Runs flowing at a quicker pace from Sneh’s bat post her half century. England loosing control, they will be disappointed to not have the wickets.
Taniya Bhatia following the footprints of Sneh Rana, Rana commanding the ship. Taniya switches gares and makes impact. England looking for a breakthrough, Skipper comes in the attack, followed by Kate Cross to bowl who’s pretty fresh and has started well in this spell. India cross the 150 lead mark and England feel a win is not possible so, hand over the ball to part timer, Elwiss who’s done a good bit. Kate Cross creating half chances and a tuff chance that’s down by the keeper. Nothing has gone England’s way in the last session and India’s 9th wicket partnership saw a 100* run stand between the pair Sneh and Taniya. Taniya 44* and Sneh 80* walk off as champions and the play has been called off due to bad light, agony for the pair as they miss out their well deserving milestones. Players shake hand, the fight, the battle at Bristol see’s a draw.
Shafali, Deepti, Sneh, Taniya and Smriti have been the standouts for India. Ecclestone for England followed by Knight and Dunkley.
Not a win but this has been a very good display. The fight, the grit and the patience has won hearts, this is no less than a win for fans. Draw from a winning position surely will disappoint England. Learnings for both sides as both nations meet Australia next for red ball cricket.
Bureau of sports 