Match Summary: India Beats England in 3rd ODI Series Decider

England Women missed out on a series win this week, falling just 13 runs short in a tense final ODI against India at Chester-le-Street. India took the series 2-1, but it was a close-run, and a match packed with drama and standout moments.

India batted first and looked strong throughout, finishing on 318 for 5. Their captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, was outstanding with the bat, smashing 102 off just 84 balls. She was well-supported by Jemimah Rodrigues (50) and Harleen Deol (45), setting England a challenging target to chase down.

Emma Lamb opened the batting and scored a confident 68. Nat Sciver-Brunt fell just two runs short of a century on 98. Alice Davidson-Richards added a quickfire 44, giving England hope in the middle overs.

It was India’s 20-year-old bowler Kranti Goud who made the difference for India. Playing just her fourth ODI, she tore through England’s line-up with incredible pace and control, taking 6 wickets. It was a breakout performance, and Captain Harmanpreet Kaur described Kranti Goud as “a star in the making.”

Kaur’s calm leadership and steady knock kept the innings anchored, while Kranti Goud’s explosive middle-order batting shifted the momentum. Their partnership came just when England were starting to claw back control, but India flipped the script, accelerating the run rate and putting the pressure right back on the hosts.

A standout moment in the game came when India finally broke the massive 162-run partnership between Emma Lamb and Nat Sciver-Brunt. After coming down the track and going for another sweep, Lamb was stumped by Shreyanka Patil, ending a record-breaking stand. Their 162-run effort off 171 balls was England’s highest ever third-wicket partnership against India, and the sixth highest for England in all ODI history.

Match Summary:

• India won the toss and opted to bat first.
• India: 318/5 (Harmanpreet Kaur 102, Rodrigues 50, Deol 45)
• England: 305 all out (Sciver-Brunt 98, Lamb 68, Davidson-Richards 44)
• India won by 13 runs
• India win the series 2-1
• England bowled out for 305 off penultimate ball in pursuit of record 319 chase.

Next stops for England Women’s Cricket Team:

England will play just two more games in this format before the 50-over World Cup to be held in India and Sri Lanka from 30 September to 2 November. England also face Bangladesh on 7 October, Sri Lanka on 11 October, Pakistan on 15 October, India on 19 October, Australia on 22 October and New Zealand on 26 October. Future games can be accessed and watched on Sky Sports Cricket.

Why Games Like this Matter.

Games like this are more than just a great watch, they prove how far women’s cricket has come. England’s 162-run third-wicket partnership was their highest ever against India, and India’s 318 total was their highest ODI score against England to date. This isn’t just stats, it’s a statement.

Women’s cricket is growing fast: over 740,000 women and girls played cricket in England and Wales in 2023, with more than 150 women’s clubs formed in the last year. With record viewership, packed stadiums, and young players breaking into the spotlight, games like this inspire the next generation. Showing young girls that cricket doesn’t have to be just a dream, but it can be a future.