Mithali, Mandhana and spinners script India’s first win of England tour

Worcester, Jul 04 (PTI): Skipper Mithali Raj struck her third consecutive half-century as India avoided a series clean sweep, defeating England by four wickets in the rain-curtailed third and final Women’s One-day International, here on Saturday.
Chasing 220 to win in 47 overs, India earned a consolation win with three balls to spare with Mithali ending unbeaten at 75 off 86 balls.
It was India’s first win of the tour. They drew the one-off Test before losing the first two ODIs.
Mithali initially batted slowly but picked up the pace as the game wore on. She was well-supported by number seven Sneh Rana, who produced a timely 24-run cameo for a 50-run partnership with her captain. Opener Smriti Mandhana played a fluent 49-run knock to keep India in hunt.
This was after Indian spinners took wickets at regular intervals to nullify a promising start by England, who were bundled out for 219 in the contest that became a 47-overs per side affair. Natalie Sciver’s confident 49 and Heather Knight’s composed 46 propped England innings while Deepti Sharma (3/47) took three wickets for India.
The two teams will now clash in a three-match T20 series, beginning on July 9 in Northampton.
Shafali Verma (19) threw her wicket away after yet another good start. Jemimah Rodrigues had an impressive defensive technique but her poor rotation of strike did no good to the tourists. She consumed 21 balls for her 4 runs. Mandhana, on the other hand, not only kept the one end tight but also played some breathtaking drives on the off-side. Her head steady approach, front foot reaching to the pitch of the ball and bat connecting with it beautifully, made it a beautiful sight.
Her splendid knock ended when leg-spinner Sarah Glenn trapped her in front of the wicket.
Mitahli and Harmanpreet Kaur (16) both batted slow and it resulted in required run rate shooting over six per over. Harmanpreet was dismissed when she missed a reverse sweep off Knight.
The TV replays showed that if she had reviewed the call, the decision, would have been overturned.
India required 14 off the final 12 balls but Rana was dismissed in the last ball of the penultimate over by Sophie Ecclestone.
Mithali though held her nerves to steer India past the finish line.