India Women’s lower order scuppered England’s chances of a first Test victory on home soil since 2005 as the two nations played out a draw at the Bristol County Ground.
A tremendous 104-run partnership for the ninth wicket between Sneh Rana and Taniya Bhatia secured the draw for the visitors, with England unable to break through and start a run chase on the final day.
The game was brought to a close with 12 overs left as the players shook for the draw with India on 344 for eight in their second innings and leading by 179 runs. Both sides took two points each from the one-off Test.
Rana’s composure
Rana resolutely blocked out before increasing the total to put the game beyond a target the hosts could have realistically chased.
It was a very composed innings from the number eight who, alongside Bhatia, put the game beyond Heather Knight’s side’s reach.
England’s seam attack
Nat Sciver, Katherine Brunt, Anya Shrubsole and Kate Cross are all right-arm bowlers who, for the most part, bowl between 62 and 68 mph, without the variation to give a new test for the Indian bowlers.
Sciver, when she bowled it short, was more than a match for Punam Raut who picked out Sophie Ecclestone at square leg in a good spell for the seamer, but later in the day she was unable to break through the crucial stand.
Sophie Ecclestone
An absolute superstar ⭐
Well bowled @Sophecc19 ? #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/sAaRJBTSEL
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 19, 2021
Arguably England’s most likely bowler to take wickets, Ecclestone was also the home side’s most used, with 38 overs in the second innings to go with 26 from the first.
She earned the England captain’s praises when Knight said: “Soph’s fine, she’s got a very simple repeatable action and was able to bowl a lot of overs. I think she performed outstandingly.”
Knight’s selection
When asked about the selection of another spin option, Knight said: “Potentially in hindsight we would have benefited from a second spinner maybe, but we went for that extra batting spot and we went for the best five bowlers that we thought would take us 20 wickets.”
