Star bowler Jhulan Goswami is retiring from international cricket after a 20-year stellar career, and Smriti Mandhana, who helped India women defeat England women in the first ODI, said the visitors are attempting to bid the legendary fast bowler a proper farewell. At the conclusion of the current three-match ODI series, the 39-year-old Goswami will say goodbye to the sport. She has taken 44 wickets in 12 Tests, 253 in 202 ODIs, and 68 in 68 T20 Internationals (56 wickets).

Mandhana, who scored 91 runs off 99 deliveries, spoke after India’s seven-wicket victory on Sunday. Goswami (10-2-20-1) also contributed to India’s victory by limiting England to 227 for 7 with 42 dot balls while being accurately personified.

“I want to say that this series is for Jhulu di (Jhulan Goswani), her bowling was amazing. All our efforts in this series will be for Jhulu di,” ODIs are natural for me, T20s I have to put effort to take care of the strike rate. In ODIs I can just react. But I’m happy to lay the platform.”

She said she would have been happier had she remained unbeaten.

Mandhana, 26, who won player of the match, acknowledged that her natural batting performs better in ODI matches than in T20Is.

She stated that if she had remained unbeaten, she would have been happy. In the 37th over, with India still needing 30 runs to win, Mandhana was the final Indian hitter to be struck out.

”Thanks to the supporters for coming out, happy to put out a show for them, I’m happy that Harman (Harmanpreet Kaur) won the toss. I saw the pitch in the first innings and told myself to cut down on the back-foot play. But didn’t hold back too much.”

Mandhana said.

“I’m happy that Harman (Harmanpreet Kaur) won the toss. I saw the pitch in the first innings and told myself to cut down on the back-foot play. But didn’t hold back too much. All of us showed the character which we discussed in team meetings. It was a crucial toss, the partnership between Jhulan and Meghna was great. Credit to all the bowlers as they chipped through,”

India captain Harmanpreet praised the team for its collective effort.

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“The partnership between Smriti and Yastika was great, we hope to continue the momentum. I want to give it all for the team, happy with the runs and with the stand alongside Smriti.” “She is a very smart cricketer, she was doing exactly what was asked of her.”

Harmanpreet said on Deepti Sharma, who was the most successful Indian bowler with 2/33,

ENG(W) vs IND(W), 1st ODI: India 232 for 3 (Mandhana 91, Harmanpreet 74*, Bhatia 50) beat England 227 for 7 (Davidson-Richards 50*, Wyatt 43, Deepti 2-33) by seven wickets

A strong and classy knock of 91 from vice-captain Smriti Mandhana fueled India to triumph after their bowlers confined England to 227 for 7 in the first ODI in Hove. Almost everything went ideal for India after they won the toss and decided to bowl on a slow pitch. They got early wickets. They kept things tight. Also, they were so ruthless they permitted just a single partnership to cross fifty runs in the entire innings. If that wasn’t a sufficient centre, when it was their chance to bat, three of the top four – Mandhana, Yastika Bhatia and Harmanpreet Kaur – hit half-centuries to seal the chase with 34 balls to spare.

India’s bowling was a collective performance from the quicks and spinners that left England without any trace of momentum in a stop-start innings and the circumstances were such that low bounce accounted for two wickets. The hosts had slipped to 94 for 5 and afterward 128 for 6 and were gazing at a much lower total until Danni Wyatt hit 43 and Alice Davidson-Richards made unbeaten 50 towards the end.

India dominated England from the start

India had England’s players on a leash right from the start with the return of Jhulan Goswami following six months for her farewell series. Emma Lamb whipped Meghna for two fours through the leg side before she edged a bouncer behind off a similar bowler in the eighth over. Nine balls later, Goswami’s inswinger caught Tammy Beaumont lbw for 7 off 21 with England having crept to only 26 for 2 in 10 overs.

Sophia Dunkley, who scored vigorously against India during the T20Is, and debutant Alice Capsey steered the hosts through a steady period however a spin squeeze from both ends ended the 43-run stand when Harmanpreet took a one-handed catch at short midwicket to send Capsey back. In what would become a pattern for the whole England innings, when it seemed Wyatt and Dunkley were rebuilding steadily, Dunkley first handed a clear catch to cover off Harleen Deol and a ball that kept extremely low from Rajeshwari Gayakwad redirected away from Amy Jones foot to hit the stumps, leaving England 94 for 5.

India lost Shafali Verma for 1 however Bhatia and Mandhana’s 96-run stand kept them ticking at over 5.50 an over. Assuming Bhatia’s innings saw a few half possibilities and edges land securely, Mandhana’s was loaded with elegant cover drives that fetched her regular boundaries. She struck three of those one after another off Kate Cross and Issy Wong. India were 59 for 1 toward the end of the powerplay, having hit 11 fours contrasted with England’s three in the same period. Conditions looked much better for scoring during the chase and Bhatia traded out, top-edging a six and clacking three additional fours to raise a 45-ball fifty. She fell following however, when she descended the track and missed one from Dean.

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Mandhana was confident as ever and along with Harmanpreet eased along with the asking rate around four an over. Harmanpreet took out her trademark sweeps and Mandhana crunched Dean back down the ground for her 24th 50 years. England likewise attempted a spin squeeze with Ecclestone, Dean and Lamb however it didn’t work. With an easy 71 required off 20 overs, Harmanpreet scooped Cross for a four and Mandhana smoked Wong over long-on for six to close in on hundred, however a cross-batted swipe against Cross brought about a top edge and Mandhana was caught at mid-on to miss the mark.

Only 30 runs left for victory from that point, Harmanpreet raised a patient 80-ball fifty before hitting the winning runs with a sweep for six.

ENG(W) vs IND(W) T20I: India 146 for 2 (Mandhana 79*) beat England 142 for 7 (Kemp 51*, Rana 3-24) by eight wickets

A brilliant unbeaten half-century from Smriti Mandhana saw India to triumph by eight wickets over England with 20 balls to spare in their second of three T20Is to even out the series 1-1.

If this evening was anything to go by, the moist and dreary beginning of autumn has so far been confined to either end of the country. Durham had offered a soggy opening to the series on Saturday as England facilitated a nine-wicket win in conditions that weren’t to India’s preference. Then, London was covered in consistent rain for a good part of Tuesday. The midlands, notwithstanding, were sticking on to summer as England’s innings advanced in a bright evening at Derby’s Incora County Ground.

HIGHLIGHTS

Mandhana all class

Set a below-par target, because of England’s early collapse and a vastly improved performance in the field by India, Mandhana played a key role in bringing it in, facing 53 balls and finding the boundary 13 times.

She put on an opening stand worth 55 with Shafali Verma, who fell for 20 to a sharp return catch by Sophie Ecclestone and a solid partnership of 69 with Harmanpreet Kaur, who ought to have been out on 19 had Danni Wyatt not spilled a clear chance at deep midwicket.

England stagger, India hang on

England began splendidly enough when Sophia Dunkley cut the third ball of the match, from Renuka Singh, for four through midwicket and Wyatt prodded the fifth between backward point and short third. In the following over, however, Dunkley charged at Deepti Sharma’s first ball and was puzzled by Richa Ghosh while Wyatt followed a short time later, edging Renuka to Sneh Rana at first slip.

A mix of phenomenal fielding- an area where India were battered in the opening match – and a blunder by Alice Capsey made it 16 for 3. Capsey had crushed Renuka through the covers and begun returning for a third run, seemingly unaware about Radha Yadav’s splendid effort running round to one side in the deep and rambling at full stretch to stop the ball short of the rope and shoot it smoothly into Harmanpreet inside the ring.

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Kemp shines

Playing her eighth T20I yet batting for just the second time, Kemp came in at No. 7 and continued to revive the England innings with her 37-ball knock. She released three sixes, two times flinging Radha down the ground to bookend her heave over deep midwicket off Renuka. She raised her maiden international fifty with a straight-determined four off the penultimate ball of the innings and finished unbeaten on 51.

India’s WODI skipper Mithali Raj continues to hold on to her No.2 spot behind Australia’s Alyssa Healy in the latest ICC ODI Player Rankings for batters released on Tuesday, while top batter Smriti Mandhana has slipped four places and is currently placed eighth. Mithali Raj with 744 points is second behind Healy, who is just five points ahead of the Indian at 749, while Mandhana with 696 points has been overtaken by England’s Tammy Beaumont (No.4), the Australian duo of Meg Lanning (No.5, 706 points) and Beth Mooney (No.6, 705 points), and South Africa’s Lizelle Lee (No. 7, 702 points).

Among bowlers, Jhulan Goswami has maintained her fourth position with 718 points, with Australia’s Jess Jonassen the leader (762 points), while among all-rounders Deepti Sharma is static at fourth spot with 289 points. No.1 all-rounder, Australia’s Elysse Perry, is way ahead on 438 points. Meanwhile, New Zealand and Australian stars have made big gains in the ODI rankings after their brilliant showings in their respective series against India and England. Ahead of the 2022 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, New Zealand, and Australian players have displayed some fine form which bodes well for their respective sides as they amp up the preparation for the tournament.

In the ODI batting charts, New Zealand’s Amy Satterthwaite has jumped up to the third spot, gaining one position with 730 rating points. Her ranking jumps up after a fine performance in the first ODI against India, where she scored a 67-ball 63, leading the hosts to a victory. New Zealand’s Suzie Bates also starred in the same match, scoring a brilliant century, which has helped her jump five spots to No. 17 in the charts. The Women’s Ashes also concluded last week in Melbourne, with batters from both sides coming up with some fine displays. England opener Tammy Beaumont scored a fighting half-century, helping her move up three spots to No.4.

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ODI Rankings slipped but Mitali still holds her position

Australian skipper Meg Lanning also scored an unbeaten 57 in the same match, helping her move up three spots to No.5. Australian Ellyse Perry was another big gainer, courtesy of an unbeaten 31, which helped her break into the top-10 with 661 rating points. In the bowling charts, England’s Sophie Ecclestone moved up one spot to No.2 after her miserly spell of 1/18 in the final ODI. Australia’s Megan Schutt also jumped up one spot to No.3 after her spell of 2/25 in the same contest. Perry also made a significant contribution with the ball in the match with figures of 1/8, which helped her move up three spots to No.6.

Though the BCCI is yet to put out an official statement regarding the absence of Smriti, Meghna, and Renuka from the ODIs, it is believed that one of them had tested positive for the coronavirus after landing in New Zealand last month. Notably, all three players are double-vaccinated but still contracted COVID-19. The trio is expected to join the rest of India’s touring team and will most likely be available for the selection for the third ODI, which is slated to be held on February 18. From New Zealand, Lea Tahuhu jumped up four spots to No.13, with figures of 1/36 in the first ODI against India.

India’s Rajeshwari Gayakwad also bowled admirably in the same match, scalping two wickets and conceding only 28 runs to move up five places to No.16 in the rankings. In the all-rounder’s chart, New Zealand’s Sophie Devine moved up three spots to No.8 after scoring 13 runs and picking up one wicket in the first ODI against India. In the T20I batting charts, Australia’s Beth Mooney returned to the top of the charts with Australia skipper Meg Lanning also moving up a position to No.2. In the bowling charts, New Zealand’s Amelia Kerr moved up five places to No.8 after her performance of 2/25 against India in the one-off T20I.

Smriti Mandhana’s Fifty becomes fruitless as Australia Women Beat India Women by 14 Runs. India lost to Australia by 14 runs in the final T20 Women’s International on Sunday, sealing the multi-format series by 11-5 points.

It was a tough challenge for India to chase a 150 run target, but Smriti Mandhana smashed 52 off 49 balls making a partnership of 57 runs with Jemimah Rodrigues (23 off 26). The Indian women’s team, disheveled in chase, however began well and lost the final T20I against Australia women by 14 runs on Sunday. Australia won four out of six white ball games beating India.

According to The Telegraph, Indian head coach Powar said “We are looking at her as a leader. At some point, she will lead. She inspires a lot of younger players in the team. The way she batted in the Test was amazing, especially under lights.” India is standing at a phase where Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami will be effaced at some point. Young bowlers like Meghana Singh and Renuka Thakur are coming up which is noteworthy.

Powar is happy that the team management could give many of the younger players game time during the series. Indian women’s team finds solace in the fact that they tried to give their best. Mandana’s glorious form and her versatility is also a plus for the team.