India Faces Defeat in Second ODI Against England at Lord's
India Suffers Another Loss at Lord's
In a disappointing turn of events, the Indian women's cricket team has faced its second defeat in just nine days at Lord's. After losing to England by 22 runs in the third Test match, the team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, suffered an 8-wicket loss in the second ODI held on July 19. This result has leveled the three-match ODI series at 1-1, with the final match scheduled for July 22, where the series champion will be determined.
England Claims Victory in the Second ODI
The second ODI at Lord's was interrupted by rain, which led to the first match being reduced to 29 overs. Batting first, the Indian women's team managed to score only 143 runs for 8 wickets in 29 overs. Following another rain delay, the match was shortened to 24 overs, setting England a target of 115 runs, which they successfully chased down in just 21 overs with the loss of two wickets.
Indian Batting Struggles
The Indian batting lineup faltered after losing the toss and being put to bat first. The players struggled to adapt to the damp pitch conditions. Key players like Pratika Rawal (3), Harleen Deol (16), captain Harmanpreet (7), Jemimah Rodrigues (3), and Richa Ghosh (2) were dismissed cheaply. Opener Smriti Mandhana held the innings together, scoring 42 runs off 51 balls.
Lower-order contributions from Deepti Sharma (30) and Arundhati Reddy (14) helped the team reach a total of 143 runs. Sophie Ecclestone was the standout bowler for England, taking three wickets, while M. Arlott claimed two.
England's Strong Chase
In pursuit of the target, England's openers Amy Jones (46) and Tammy Beaumont (34) provided a solid start, adding 54 runs for the first wicket. Sneh Rana gave India its first breakthrough by dismissing Beaumont. However, captain Nat Sciver-Brunt (21) and Jones pushed the score past 100 before rain interrupted play again.
After the rain, England's target was revised to 115 runs in 24 overs, which they achieved comfortably in 21 overs. India managed to take two wickets, with Kranti Gaud and Sneh Rana each claiming one. The decisive third ODI will take place in Chester-le-Street on July 22, where the series winner will be revealed.