Record-breaking Raj inspires India to thrilling last-

over ODI win against England

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2183592

India had the last laugh in the final ODI of the multi-format series as an
unbeaten captain's knock from Mithali Raj guided the visitors to a four-
wicket victory at Worcester.

SCORECARD

Winning the toss, the India skipper opted to field first at New Road. Some
showers led to a delayed start before the contest was reduced to 47-overs
per side. In conditions assisting the seamers, Shikha Pandey (1/42) got the
visitors off to a perfect start, trapping Tammy Beaumont in front for a
duck. 

Lauren Winfield-Hill (36) and Heather Knight (46) then steadied the ship for
England with a 67-run partnership, before Sneh Rana snared her only
wicket of the match taking down Winfield-Hill for 36. Knight would be the
next one to walk, missing out on her half-century thanks to Harmanpreet
Kaur (1/24). Knight however brought up 3000 runs in ODI cricket, becoming
only the fourth English woman to do so. 

The fourth England woman to 3000 ODI runs – @Heatherknight55 👏

#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/sD0EubuzTO

— ICC (@ICC) July 3, 2021

England kept losing wickets at regular intervals, failing to build any sort of
momentum with the bat. Nat Sciver would top score with 49, but didn't get
much support from the other end before her eventual dismissal in the 38th
over. Sophia Dunkley (28) also played a handy knock, with England posting
a total of 219 all out after a late innings collapse.

It was a collective bowling effort from the Indian unit, with Deepti Sharma
the pick of the lot with figures of 3/47 from her 10 overs.
In reply, India got off to a steady start with openers Shafali Verma (19) and
Smriti Mandhana (49) sharing a 46-run stand. Verma, who struck three
boundaries and made a 29-ball 19, was the first to fall courtesy of Kate
Cross (1/38).

In at No.3, Jemimah Rodrigues (4) combined with Mandhana for a 20-run

partnership, before falling prey to Sophie Ecclestone's (2/36) smart bowling
in the 16th over.

With wickets beginning to fall from one end, Mandhana kept her cool at the
crease but became the second player in the match to fall just one run short
of a half-century. Sarah Glenn (1/26) snared the prized scalp of the India
opener, who hit eight fours during her 57-ball innings. 

The leading run-scorer across formats in women's cricket

Take a bow, @M_Raj03! #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/cykCZCtQwk

— ICC (@ICC) July 3, 2021

Suddenly, the onus was on captain Raj (75*) and Kaur (16) to get India back
on track for a 220 target. They stitched an important 50-run partnership,
with one of them adding another feather to her cap.

Raj went past England's Charlotte Edwards to become the all-time leading
run-scorer across all international women’s cricket. 

Soon after, England skipper Heather Knight claimed her 50th ODI wicket,
trapping Kaur in front for 16, which brought Deepti Sharma (18) out to the
middle.

Raj and Sharma produced 33 runs together before Sciver (1/34) caught and
bowled the latter. In came Rana (24), who toiled away with Raj to position
India with six runs to win off the last over.

With last use of the ball, Katherine Brunt (0/45) was given the responsibility
to lead her side to a dramatic triumph at the death except a calm and
collected Mithali Raj stood in England's way. On Brunt's third delivery, Raj
slashed the ball away to point to earn India a gutsy win.
The two sides will meet again on Friday at Northampton in the first of three
T20Is to round out the multi-format series.