The first ODI between India and England turned out to be a thriller of a match. Mithali Raj-led India managed to pull off a victory by one wicket, thanks to sensible batting by tailenders Poonam Yadav and Ekta Bisht. Despite losing a flurry of wickets and being reduced to 190 for 9 in the 47th over, Yadav-Bisht managed to clinch victory when 14 runs were needed from 12 balls.
Earlier Smriti Mandhana led India’s runchase from the front continuing her brilliant form in the limited overs cricket. She got India off to a flier chasing a target of 208. Opener Devika Vaidya got out after scoring 15 followed by skipper Mithali Raj. Mithali got out for a duck but created a record of becoming the most capped women ODI player.
Mandhana held on to one end and shared crucial partnerships with Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma who scored 21 and 24 runs respectively. Mandhana got out for 86 runs from 109 balls including 5 fours and 4 sixes and that’s when the batting began collapsing.
India lost 6 wickets in a matter of 19 runs and what seemed to be an easy runchase after Mandhana’s innings turned in England’s way. Somehow, sloppy bowling from Anya Shrubsole in the 49th over gave India a chance to capitalise which they did and secured a win in the first ODI.
Here’s the video of the last ball of India’s innings –
It got extremely close in the end but India pulled off a 1-wicket win over England. Here’s that moment. #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/DYnw9QjmnY
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) April 6, 2018
Here’s how Twitterati reacted to it –
A nail biter in the end #INDvENG @Paytm womens ODI #Nagpur. Last wicket partnership of 19(15) between Ekta Bisht and Poonam Yadav getting @BCCIWomen the victory.
— Anjum Chopra (@chopraanjum) April 6, 2018
That was close!
The Indian women were cruising at one stage and then lost one wicket too many. However, the last pair held their nerves to guide them to a one-wicket win with 5 balls to spare.
The @BCCIWomen go 1-0 up in the series.#INDvENG
— Delhi Daredevils (@DelhiDaredevils) April 6, 2018
Smriti Mandhana’s last seven ODI scores read: 84, 135, 0, 12, 67, 52, 83* (batting)
Smriti Mandhana’s last seven T20I scores read: 57, 37, 13, 67, 76, 3, 62What a player @mandhana_smriti is turning out to be for India.#IndWvEngW
— Harshit Anand (@imHarshitAnand) April 6, 2018
Smriti Mandhana slowly turning into what Sachin Tendulkar was to Indian team in the 90’s #INDWvsENGW
— Abhijith S (@Abhi_mania) April 6, 2018
#SmritiMandhana hits her 10th ODI FIFTY!
She’s in some supernatural form! #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/uOcPdnhQz4
— Women’s CricZone (@WomensCricZone) April 6, 2018
#SmritiMandhana u beauty
No matter whether the game is being telecasted or not
Something never changes and that’s u scoring 50+ in every match@mandhana_smriti #INDWvENGW @BCCI hate u for not telecasting the match— Shivani Chaudhary (@_Shivani_C) April 6, 2018
miracles do happen indian women’s cricket team won the match by 1 wicket! super match initially i thought india easily won this match but middle overs india losing too many wkts, strong comeback england, in the end #TeamIndiawon 1’sagain star of the match : Smriti Mandhana
— Karthick Viru (@Vijay_Rules_Da) April 6, 2018
#INDWvENGW what a thrilling match all praise for ekta bisht and #poonamyadav yayyyyyyyyyyyy yohooooo and yes #SmritiMandhana outstanding performance once again… run machine of indian womens cricket team
— Vineeta (@sweetybliss11) April 6, 2018
19 run partnership for 10th wicket, Ekta & Poonam Yadav
If only we had such partnership at lords last year
Anyway great show #INDvENG #INDWvENGW1st ODI : Ind Women won by 1 wkt https://t.co/EmIjlBKzLp
— Lokendra (@loki_banna) April 6, 2018
What a penultimate over we have witnessed.
Once again, she proved it,
The Passion, The Strength, The Beauty, @mandhana_smriti You Beaut.
What a knock that has been.
Slowly becoming the next Women Superstar after @M_Raj03 for the India Women Cricket Team.#IndvEng— Hrishi Kesh Reddy (@ReddyRish) April 6, 2018
The win shows how much Indian women’s team has learned and became better after worldcup, and this win will surely pave way for further progress! Champion stuff! #Champions #INDWvENGW #IndvEng #CricketMeriJaan
— Sanket Jain (@JainSanket1461) April 6, 2018
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In the first innings, spinner Poonam Yadav rushed through England’s top order. She got the wicket of the openers Danielle Wyatt and Tammy Beaumount who scored 27 and 37 respectively. She got rid of Amy Ellen Jones for a duck as well. Indian spinners continued their dominance as England could not build on a platform set by openers.
While Poonam took 4 wickets, Ekta Bisht and Deepti Sharma picked up 3 and 2 wickets respectively as well. England were bundled out for 207 in the first innings as none of the batters went on to play big innings. India will face England again in the second ODI on April 9.
