Brimming with confidence after the T20I series win, India kicked off the ODI series in a similar vein with a breezy four-wicket victory to take a 1-0 lead over England. Deepti Sharma scored an unbeaten 62 and was proficiently supported by Jemimah Rodrigues (48) in the 259-run chase. Albeit, the foundation of glory was laid by Kranti Goud (2-55) and Sneh Rana (2-31) with the ball. Sophia Dunkley (83) and Alice Davidson Richards (53) composed valiant fifties to guide the hosts to a respectable score after they were 97/4 at one stage.
India made early inroads, with Goud bowling an absolute peach which nipped back and clipped the bails to remove Amy Jones. She followed it up with another brute of a ball. The youngster sent down a wicked inswinger to trap Tammy Beaumont on the pads. Despite being adjudged not-out on-field, the England opener had to walk back to the pavilion as DRS went in India’s favour. Nat Sciver-Brunt and Emma Lamb fought fire with fire, combining to hit four boundaries in the last three overs of the PowerPlay.
India called upon spin at the onset of the middle overs but the flurry of boundaries continued for England with the partnership breaching the 50-run mark. However, just as the duo started gathering steam, Rana got Lamb to chip one straight to mid-off. The adroit offspinner picked up Sciver-Brunt in her next over, with Jemimah Rodrigues plucking a stunner at mid-wicket. The two new batters, Dunkley and Davidson Richards navigated a fallow period of play dominated by the Indian spinners before the latter broke the shackles with a loft down the ground in the 27th over.
Much to India’s chagrin, both batters were handed a life as the hosts endeavored to rebuild their innings. To make matters worse, each capitalized on the reprieve. Dunkley brought up a 68-ball 50 on her birthday while Davidson Richards achieved the milestone two overs later and lost her wicket soon thereafter, stumped off Shree Charani. The last five overs were prolific for the hosts with 49 runs coming out of them. Dunkley was the aggressor-in-chief, badgering five boundaries in this phase while Sophie Ecclestone gave her company. The half-centurion was eventually dismissed on the last ball of the innings off Amanjot Kaur.
India began briskly in response. Openers Smriti Mandhana flicked and pulled Lauren Bell with elan whereas Pratika Rawal pierced the off-side ring on a couple of occasions with delectable backfoot punches as the pair raked up 1000 partnership runs. But against the run of play, Mandhana’s stay at the crease came to a halt after nicking behind.
Direct hit. GONE.
ADR, quick hands 🔥 pic.twitter.com/hYCaSlcbCv
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 16, 2025
Despite the setback, India safeguarded themselves against a drop in momentum through Rawal and Harleen Deol. The latter stroked three boundaries off Lauren Filer but England introduced Sophie Ecclestone post the PowerPlay – for an eight-over spell – and after keeping a tight lid on the runs from her end, she knocked over Rawal. Soon after, courtesy a casual bit of running, Deol was sent packing after not grounding her bat in the crease. Things continued to go the hosts’ way as Harmanpreet Kaur was trapped in front by Charlie Dean – the decision though initially given not out was reversed by DRS.
It was then the rock-solid alliance worth 90 runs between Rodrigues and Deepti that changed the complexion of the game. Both batters peeled off quick boundaries off Dean while Lamb bowled in wayward fashion. Deepti slog-swept Bell into the stands as the scoring graph showed unabated progress.
England did strike twice in quick succession to depart Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh but it the breakthroughs came a bit too late as Deepti moved to fifty, partnering with Amanjot to usher India past the finish line with 10 balls to spare.
Brief Scores: England 258/6 in 50 overs (Sophia Dunkley 83, Alice Davidson Richards 53; Sneh Rana 2-31, Kranti Goud 2-55) lost to India 262/6 in 48.4 overs (Deepti Sharma 62*, Jemimah Rodrigues 48; Charlie Dean 2-52, Sophie Ecclestone 1-34) by four wickets
