India Women vs England Women One-Off Test Day 2 Highlights - IND: 187/5: Shafali misses century, late batting collapse hurts India

IND W vs ENG W One-Off Test, Day 2 highlights: IND: 187/5: Shafali Verma falls short of century, England revels in late wicket flurry

Updated : Jun 18, 2021 13:39 IST

India's Shafali Verma fell four runs of a century against England in the one-off Test in Bristol.
India's Shafali Verma fell four runs of a century against England in the one-off Test in Bristol.
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India's Shafali Verma fell four runs of a century against England in the one-off Test in Bristol.

 

 

Hello and welcome to the highlights of day 2 of the one-off Test between India Women and England Women from Bristol County Ground. This is Lavanya Lakshminarayanan taking you through today's proceedings.


SUMMARY:
It was a bright positive start overall for England this morning, despite losing Katherine Brunt early. Sophia Dunkley and Sophie Ecclestone carried England over the 300 mark and Anya Shrubsole T20-esque 47-run cameo got the host to 396/6, prompting skipper Heather Knight to declare. India started strong with Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana registering India's highest opening partnership in women's Tests  - 167. Shafali fell four runs short of a century which left her livid at herself. Mandhana couldn't carry on for too long either as wickets tumbled in quick succession - four wickets for four runs. Bringing in Shikha Pandey as the nightwatcher didn't go as planned as India lost batting mainstays Mithali Raj and Punam Raut.  Deepthi Sharma and Harmanpreet Kaur will take guard for India on day 3. The weather is expected to play up on Friday so India will need to survive the first session of play, particularly avoid the follow on. Knight was the most successful bowler with two wickets, with Sophie Ecclestone, Kate Cross and Nat Sciver getting one each  - spinners to the fore yet again. Join us for LIVE action from day 3 on Friday.

 

Sophie Ecclestone: It shows what Test cricket is all about. It's all about who cracks first. I think in the changing room, we were saying we need to keep going and keep digging in. I love it when Tammy caught that one there (about Mithali's wicket). That hour at the end of play is what Test cricket is all about. We need to pick up a few wickets in the morning and start batting soon.

 

---------STUMPS: IND 187/5 [60 OVERs] TRAIL BY 209 RUNS----------

What a turnaround this. Unbelievable how drastically the tables have turned. Harmanpreet survives a LBW appeal thanks to a review and gets one to the boundary before umpires call it a day on day 2. From 167/1 to 187/5, it's been an unbelievable turn of fortunes for the visitor. Harman is already standing by the boundary discussing strategy with Smriti. India has to avoid that follow on, the mark is at 246.
 

58.2 AND ANOTHER ONE. This is not how anyone wants to refer to DJ Khalid, is it? Punam Raut's dangerous leaves have come back to bite her. Knight sends on in and hits her on the left pad. Beaumont is quick to catch the deflected ball too just to be sure. Umpire says she has to go. Raut reviews and the truth is stinging. Leg stump clearly knocked off in ball tracking. She's had a laboured stay here and she can't survive the night.

47.2 OH MY. HAVE THEY GOTTEN MITHALI? Is there an edge there? Beaumont is confident. Umpire says no. England reviews. We see an inside edge from onto the pad which Beaumont was quick to catch. It's a big wicket. Mithali Raj, India's highest runscorer across formats, walks with just 2 runs in the bag. 

It's funny how both teams have crumbled with the bat in these finishing hours of the day.

55.6 OH AND SHE'S GONE TOO.
3 Pandey walks c&b Knight. This has not paid off for India. Mithali Raj comes in.

This brings Shikha Pandey as the nightwatcher.

54.3: MANDHANA GOES. Katherine Brunt's expression is tht "Boy, how did we get so lucky" look everyone knows! Sciver sends in an off-cutter, but I am not sure Mandhana has timed that very well. She chips it and it goes aerially, right into Brunt's hands. That ball just about stays in her palms. Everyone is smiling in the English camp. They know what this means. A chance for England to make inroads here.

53.6 
Knight's let a slower one go and Raut allows it to hit her pad. There's a shout. Umpire Redfern is unfazed. Seems like its going outside leg. But worth a try eh? Raut is taking her time to settle in.



Heartening to see most of our timelines filled with women's cricket today. Take up space, ladies! It's been a fabulous performance with the bat for Mandhana and Verma and England earlier in the day (I won't be forgetting that Shrubsole cameo for a long long time). Come to think of it, Shrubsole was a teaser for the carnage to come later in the day. The irony being, it came against her side.

50.6 Smriti Mandhana has suddenly run off the pitch. When nature calls, you have to go. The vacant expressions on everyone else's faces are quite hilarious. We heard a very animated 'whaaaaat' near one of the on-field mics.

48.5
In her 90s. She's on 96. Nothing nervous about this. She's going to go all guns blazing isn't it? YES SHE DOES AND IT'S IN THE AIR WITHOUT CLEARANCE. Shrubsole is under it at mid-off and she'll hold on to that like her life depends on it. GONE ON 96, SHAFALI VERMA. Take a look at Anya's face. That's what relief looks like.


47.1 Heather Knight has brought herself on.
She has been giving herself some time with the ball in the nets, cautious to not hurt her back in the process. Can she give England the breakthrough they need/

45.2 SIX! SECOND OF THE INNINGS FOR SHAFALI. She brings up the India 150. Flying over longon.

No respite for England. Is it time for Heather Knight to come on?

STAT: Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma have put up a 136-run stand now for the first wicket - India's highest in Women's Tests.

Just speaking of batting here: Look at the English start, look at the Indian start - who looks like they've not played this format in 7 years (in some of these cases, at all). Classy from India. They've certainly given the English press some exciting stuff to talk about.

34.5 DUNKLEY HAS DROPPED SMRITI MANDHANA.
How costly is that going to be? Mandhana has dispatched this one to cover and despite being a little, could/should Dunkly have held on that?

This pitch is interesting. Dead is not the word. India isn't complaining. I don't these two out there care either. See ball, hit ball as safely as possible from the Indians. One wicket can help English morale.

Still not sure of Shafali in ODIS, India? Asking for a friend.

What's more alarming for Ecclestone isn't the lack of wickets. It's the flow of runs! Unbelievable. Has England been complacent here?

30.5 HALF CENTURY FOR MANDHANA! You can't leave Mandhana behind. She's cruised to a fifty herself, with a boundary herself! She pulls this short delivery from Ecclestone between deep backward square and fine leg. Making full use of the red ball opportunity here, these two.

STAT: Shafali Verma is the youngest opener to score a fifty on debut in Women's Test history.

27.2. FIFTY RUNS FOR SHAFALI. ON DEBUT
and it is only fair that she gets this with a boundary. She's been aggressive here but not disrespectful. There have been sprinkles of luck with the edges here and there and the gratitude to survive always comes on her face. 'Phew' her smile says. Good going for the teenager. Read more about her debut and the significance of this innings here

India is flying away here in this first innings. Mandhana and Verma have been very fluent here. Cross began proceedings post tea but Ecclestone was brought in despite a tidy over from her. England have largely had no questions to ask of the Indian openers. Very heartening intent from the Indian side. We have a match on our hands here.

We go again post tea.

--------Tea [India 63/0 in 23 overs, trails England by 333 runs  --------


India's started strong here against England and that Shafali is the more comfortable one here in this partnership is a great sign for the Indian camp and for her fans praying for her success. I've personally been excited to watch Ecclestone/Shrubsole vs Verma. England has to bring in some variations and unsettle this duo if they want to complement what they've done with the bat. Shafali and Smriti will hope there's no momentum break post tea and keep it going. It's been a sprightly innings and they've kept the scoreboard going too. Good signs for India so far.

Some sublime shotmaking from both the Indian openers today. The Indian start has been measured but not slow and it's showing in how Mandhana and Verma are slowly growing in confidence. They are finding the gaps and aren't without luck too, with a few edges here and there landing safely.

17.3 CHANCE FOR CROSS BUT NO. 
Possible caught and bowled chance here but its too low and too hard for her. That's got to hurt. She seems fine, thankfully. And we now see Sophie Ecclestone stretching a little distance away.

It's been heartening to see Shafali show the calmness she is showing. She's handling herself and the situation well. It helps to have a very composed Smriti Mandhana who enjoys batting in England for company.

Shafali-Vermajpg
'Brunt' force


Brunt, Shrubsole, Cross and Sciver have had a go so far. Fairly disciplined, besides some nagging bouncers from Brunt.

12.5 SIX FOR SHAFALI!
Oh hasn't she arrived in the Test stage now. What a beautiful six there from Shafali Verma. Nicely goes past mid-off for a maximum. England would have though they'd have a wicket by now, but no.

Mandhana and Verma have kept the run rate looking lively here. Dealing in the occasional boundary here and there.

Fairly sedate start here by India. England is not bothered about being patient nd allowing the Indians to settle. Lot of variations, especially from Brunt. There's a lot of chatter from the English side. Words of encouragement also towards Shafali Verma.

Stat: Sneh Rana is the fifth woman to get 4 wickets in a Test match.

We're set now for the Indian innings. Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana are padded up by the boundary line. Smriti will face the first ball. Katherine Brunt will begin for England.

INNINGS BREAK----------------------------------------------------



This is only the fourth instance of five 50+ artnershis in a women's Test innings. England is happy with what they've done with the bat here. That Shrubsole cameo was particularly delightful (not if you're an India fan though) to watch.

121.2. OUT. Rana is not thrilled, more relieved to see the back of Shrubsole!
An inside edge crashes into the stumps here for Shrubsole who moved quickly to 47 off 33 balls. T20-esque innings with a strike rate of 142.42. Heather Knight is happy and the declaration comes! Applause for both batters.

119.6 17 RUNS in this over
for Anya Shrubsole. Making the Indians pay, all right!  Fifty partnership comes up for these two.  India has allowed the English tail to wag and how!

119.4. India has been tardy on the field in this game. Shrubsole is dropped. She's heaved Rana down to deep square leg, Vastrakar had to make a run for it and gets it but shells it. Really can't blame her for this, she had to do all the work to even get there. Anya is going to make them pay for this though.

England is evidently trying to accelerate here post lunch. Surely, the English bowlers are itching to bowl in these conditions. Mithali Raj not going for a catch at mid-off when that shot had so much height is not helping. Anya Shrubsole is happy to capitalise on the errors.

And we're back with the afternoon session. Shikha Pandey begins.

Now the question is, will England declare? What's the strategy here?
Here's what Dunkley told Sky Sports on what the plan was this morning: Get ourselves in the best position, tricky against the new ball, then see where we get to after that. I think we've got ourselves into a really good position from where we were last night, good to kick on and see off the new ball with Brunty.

On her half century:   All a bit of a blur, happy I could contribute to the team.

Plan post lunch: Keep batting and see where we're at. Going well, see how many we can get on the board.

It's been quite a session for England. Lost the two wickets there - Brunt and Ecclestone but Sophia Dunkley has been there, wedging her way through. A deserved 50 for her today. This is England's highest total against India in a women's Test match. 88 runs have been added in this session, for the loss of two wickets. Advantage England in Bristol.

------------------ LUNCH [ENG: 357/8 in 118 overs] --------------------

Tammy's mum is still knitting. What is she making? The England kits just came out today, is her entry a little too late?

STAT:
No women's side has lost a Test after batting first and scoring 300. Draws though are abundant.

111.3 OUT! Ecclestone lasted just two deliveries after that lifeline! Aggression here from her as she tries to go a little aerial with that shot. Barely got any elevation there, but it's good enough for Shikha Pandey to catch at mid on. Third wicket for Deepti Sharma.  Anya Shrubsole comes in.

111.1 Oops. LBW shout. Ecclestone in the danger zone this time. Deepti Sharma bowls in to her and the ball swings in a bit. Umpire says out. England reviews. Ultra edge deems no bat. Ball tracking sees everything in line, BUT the ball is missing the wickets. Dunkley gives Ecclestone a big head.. um helmet rub. And we go again. Sophie gone for 17(56).

30 minutes or so to go for lunch. Maybe the pace should pick up for England?

110.1 FIFTY FOR DUNKLEY.
Remarkable debut for her, given the situation she came in to bat at. A big toothy smile from her and ably supported by Sophie Ecclestone this morning.

108.4. Fifty partnership comes up for Ecclestone and Dunkley - this for the eighth wicket. Just as I write, there's a loud appeal here for LBW . The umpire has given it out! England reviews . Ball tracking finds the ball missing the leg stump by a mile. Dunkley is safe and four short of a half century on debut. Sue Redfern doesn't get many wrong, but this can't be faulted given that Dunkley takes a very close off stump guard. All's well that end's well though here. Taniya Bhatia was disappointed.

My colleague Ayan doesn't see the fuss about the pace of play: "This is Test cricket. They can afford to be slow! England wouldn't want to bat a second time. Score 400 and then bowl India out twice in 2 days."

Dunkley and Ecclestone are waiting while the Indians make their way back to the field. This overrate discussion is not going to end anytime soon. We're back with Rana taking the ball. 

DRINKS:
300 for England, a wicket for India in the 14 overs in the first hour of the day. Sophie Ecclestone likes to think of herself as an all-rounder and she's living up to it here aiding Dunkley with confidence.

There's a spectator here who is not happy with the pace of the game. Is this directed at the England girls, who need to pick up their scoring pace and get to around 350 ideally or is it directed at the Indian side, happy to take their time in setting the field all through this Test. "Come on girls, move it along a bit," the voice says.

Tammy Beaumont's mum is knitting in the stands. What a delightfully British visual. Can't help but love it!

104.4 Punam Raut is holding her finger
after a ball clipped her finger a bit while at short leg. She is visibly uncomfortable. What follows is another India review for LBW. An upward flying delivery has hit Ecclestone on the pads. Ball tracking finds the ball pitches outside off stump and the height rightly makes the ball miss the stump by a fair bit. A review wasted? Maybe it doesn't matter. We'll see. Bottomline - Ecclestone safe.

Steady here from Dunkley and Ecclestone,  a 35-run partnership between these two. Ecclestone, taking the lead here since she's come on. Everything added now will be an advantage for England. Rana is in the attack now and one of her deliveries in the 99th over got a sharp bit of turn, enough for us to get excited about it. A wicket isn't far away. Sharper fielding could help too.

102.4 ENGLAND GETS 300.

Reminder of the points system - 16 points up for grabs in this tournament


Sneh Rana can still get a five-for. What a story that would be, wouldn't it? She last played for India five years ago... and now, here she is orchestrating her team's fightback in her debut Test. The Railways all-rounder has been stupendous. 32 4 85 3 so far. Sophie and Sophia take ENG closer to the 300-mark. ENG 297/7 (101) 

That brings Sophie Ecclestone to the crease. Ecclestone is off the mark quickly and follows it with a nice shot down the covers for four. Sophie is handy with the bat. What can Sophie and Sophia do here for England?

94.6 OUT! EARLY BREAKTHROUGH FOR INDIA and Jhulan gets in the book. Big appeal for LBW after the ball looks like it hit the pads of Katherine Brunt. Umpire says no. India reviews. Ball tracking confirms the ball is in line and hit the pads first. During our Spaces session yesterday, one of the participants had asked for smarter reviews. Here's one!

Shikha Pandey and Jhulan Goswami are starting proceedings today.  A chatter-heavy Indian field is there to make things daunting for the host.

------------------------------DAY  2 LIVE -------------------------------

Day 1 highlights - A recap in six minutes

 

Heather Knight on the Bristol pitch to BBC: Little bit on the slow side not a huge amount of carry,  little bit of turn not very excessive. You usually get good value for your shots here in Bristol, but it (the pitch) was okay. It will be interesting to see how it progresses. It's going to be tough to get 20 wickets, hopefully we can get a big score tomorrow and get 350+. If we get more than that, that would be great. We need a big partnership where we can move things along a little faster.

I am so chuffed for Dunks. She doesn't see herself as a role model, but she absolutely is. Big day for her tomorrow, I don't think she'll be sleeping much tonight.

 

What to look forward to on day 2:

1. A potential fifer for Sneh Rana - Sneh Rana, coming back into the Indian side after five years, had a dream Test debut. Three wickets - those of Tammy Beaumont, Georgia Elwiss and Amy Jones - on day 1 helped India get back in the game towards the end of play after a largely comfortable day for the host. With the tail to follow, Sneh will want to convert this into a five-wicket haul

2. A Sophia Dunkley special?: No pressure on the 22-year-old, but England's hopes of getting past 300 will rest largely on debutant Dunkley. She also made history by becoming the first black woman to represent her country in Tests. She will hope to bring her rich vein of form from the Rachel Heyhoe Flint Trophy into this game to allow her side a competitive first innings total.

You can read more about Sophia here:

3. To make Shafali open or not to make, that is the question: Shafali Verma has high expectations coming her way on a regular day. Her Test match debut is no different. While teammates, pundits and fans have all spoken about shielding her and the other first-timers from pressure, it will be interesting to see if she comes out to bat in her usual opening position or is given some time by maybe coming in at no.3. What India's opening combination will be is one factor to watch out for. Smriti Mandhana - Punam Raut may be a possible alternative.

You can check out the details highlights of day 1 here:


Day 1 catch-up:
Good afternoon everyone! Thanks for joining us in our live coverage of day 2 of the Bristol Test. First a brief recap of day 1. England is nearing the 300-mark. It was 269 for 6 at stumps on day one. Tammy Beaumont's 66 and Heather Knight's 95, five short of a century in her 100th game as captain, were crucial to England comfortably getting through the day until tea. But the host will not be happy about the mini collapse towards the end of the play yesterday. It lost 4 wickets for just 21 runs.

230/3 (Sciver) -- 236/4 (Jones) -- 244/5 (Knight) -- 251/6 (Elwiss)


All credit to the Indian spinners - Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana (on debut). The latter will go into day 2 hoping to convert her three-wicket haul into a fifer. India did look a little rusty early on, still coming to terms with the patience game that is Test cricket. Sophia Dunkley, making her England debut, and Katherine Brunt will resume for England today and will hope to get their team past 300.

All eyes will also be on the Bristol wicket which has drawn criticism for being reused after a Gloucesterchire men's T20 game last week. England batters already briefed the press on the dead wicket this pitch proved to be on day 1. It will be interesting to see how it behaves on day 2.


Former India cricketers Shubhangi Kulkarni and Sudha Shah on their experiences in Test cricket and why this one-off Test is a positive note in Indian women's cricket history

Where are the teams playing?

The one-off Test will be played at the Bristol County Ground. Bristol has not seen a men's or women's Test match yet.

Where to watch - telecast and live streaming details

The one-off Test match between India and England women in India will be telecast on Sony TEN 1 and available for live streaming on Sony Liv. Jio TV and Airtel XStream will also provide live streaming.

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