England Women put in an elegant performance to take the third and final Twenty 20 game of the series from India in Mumbai. Final score: England 126 for five, India 125 for four.
With the series level at one game apiece, both sides took to the field looking for a win.
England captain Charlotte Edwards won the toss and on the back on their strong fielding performance in the previous match, elected to field.
The team did a fine job of stifling India’s top order. Jenny Gunn took the first wicket off the third ball of the game, landing a catch at mid-on, to see off Naik for one. Tammy Beaumont stumped Raut for 26 off a ball from Laura Marsh.
The world champions demonstrated the all round quality to the side with wickets being shared around the bowlers. Spinner Danielle Hazell took Mithali Raj to leave India 56 for three. Nicky Shaw then bowled Chopra for 22.
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In recent games, England have not performed well with the bat so Edwards made changes, pushing the strikers higher up the order. This proved to be a wise decision when Laura Marsh came to the crease. Marsh hit 47 not out off 53, (including five boundaries) to be top run scorer of the game.
A Marsh and Beth Morgan partnership was just shy of a half-century, adding a valuable 49 runs before Morgan was stumped by Naik.
Marsh continued her sensational form with Gunn. Together, they took England to within sight of sealing the series, with Gunn scoring 22 before being bowled by Sultana to leave England on 116 for five, needing 10 off 12.
In the last two overs, Lydia Greenway calmly stepped up to face the Indian spinners. She picked up three runs and put Marsh on strike. Marsh clinched the series in style, driving the ball deep in the covers, for her fifth boundary of the game.
After the game captain Charlotte Edwards said: ‘It is great to finish the tour on a real high. Our priority was to win the Twenty20 series. We have all worked hard as a team throughout the tour, it has been great to see some of the younger girls getting international experience and making the most of their opportunities. I’m looking forward to the defending our Twenty20 title in the West Indies’.
Alice Neal, Sportsister
The Woman’s Sports Magazine
