India’s Batting Crumbles Without Star Trio Against England

News Desk

Bengaluru: India’s preparations for the upcoming Women’s ODI World Cup revealed a tale of two contrasting performances on Thursday—while the senior team faltered against England in a warm-up clash, India A stole the spotlight with a spirited victory over New Zealand.

At Bengaluru’s Centre of Excellence ground, India—missing key batters Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and Pratika Rawal—crumbled under pressure chasing 341. They were bundled out for just 187, with all-rounder Arundhati Reddy sidelined due to a leg injury.

Captain Jemimah Rodrigues held the innings together with a fluent 66, while wicketkeeper Uma Chetry, drafted in for the injured Yastika Bhatia, impressed with 45. But India’s middle order faltered as Richa Ghosh, Deepti Sharma, and Sneh Rana could manage only 43 runs between them.

England, meanwhile, flexed their batting depth. Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt’s authoritative 120 and Emma Lamb’s 84 anchored a 173-run stand that powered the visitors to 340. Renuka Singh’s early strikes and Kranti Goud’s three-wicket burst were bright spots, but they couldn’t prevent England from dictating terms.

Read More: https://thepenpk.com/from-memes-to-magic-pakistan-triumph-in-dubai/

In sharp contrast, India A delivered a morale-boosting win over New Zealand in a rain-curtailed fixture. Chasing a revised target of 225 in 40 overs via the DLS method, Shafali Verma—shockingly excluded from India’s World Cup squad—hammered 70 off 49 balls, setting the tone for a successful chase.

Lower-order resilience came through wicketkeeper Madiwala Mamatha’s unbeaten 56 and captain Minnu Mani’s 39 not out, sealing a four-wicket victory. Earlier, seamer Sayali Satghare, part of the World Cup reserves, struck with three wickets before Izzy Gaze’s counterattacking 101 rescued New Zealand.

Elsewhere in Colombo, rain washed out both the Pakistan-Sri Lanka and South Africa-Bangladesh warm-ups. Sri Lanka were 33 for 1 against Pakistan before play ended, while South Africa’s top order faltered to 45 for 3 against Bangladesh. Teenage pacer Marufa Akter dismissed both Laura Wolvaardt and Annerie Dercksen, while Nahida Akter bowled Marizanne Kapp, giving Bangladesh a dream start before rain intervened.

The day’s mixed fortunes underscored India’s fragile batting depth at the senior level even as fringe players and India A performers pressed their case for bigger roles.