Shafali Verma appeared to have given India an unlikely victory chance before England debutant Sophia Dunkley moved on to a classy half-century and Sophie Ecclestone and Knight took three wickets between them…leaving India in trouble at 185 for five
- Shafali Verma appeared to give India an unlikely victory chance on Thursday
- But, England’s debutant Sophia Dunkley moved on to a classy half-century
- She also shared in a good partnership of 70 for the ninth wicket with Shrubsole
- Spinners in Sophie Ecclestone and Knight also took three wickets between them
- Leaving India in trouble at 185 for five, still 209 behind, with two days left
Just when teenage sensation Shafali Verma appeared to have given India an unlikely victory chance here on Thursday England came storming back in what has become a terrific women’s Test.
Verma, at 17 already the world’s top ranked T20 batter, aimed a blistering attack on Test debut at an England side seemingly in an impregnable position after declaring at 396 for nine.
But when she holed out for 96, including two sixes and 13 fours, England dramatically seized back the initiative as five India wickets crashed for just 16 runs in the final hour.
Just when teenage sensation Shafali Verma (above) appeared to have given India an unlikely victory chance here on Thursday England came storming back in
England’s debutant Sophia Dunkley (above) moved on to a classy half-century of her own
This was another persuasive case for more women’s Test cricket from the moment England’s debutant Sophia Dunkley moved on to a classy half-century of her own.
Dunkley, the first black woman to play Test cricket for England, looked very much a star in the making at 22 as she made an unbeaten 74 and shared in an entertaining partnership of 70 for the ninth wicket with Anya Shrubsole.
Dunkley, the first black woman to play Test cricket for England, looked like star in the making
She also shared in an entertaining partnership of 70 for the ninth wicket with Anya Shrubsole
Shrubsole dominated with 47, including a six of her own, before Heather Knight called a halt to England’s innings when she became a fourth wicket for Sneh Rana.
It seemed England could push for a win in this four-day game on a used Bristol pitch but Verma and Smriti Mandhana had other ideas with a hard-hitting opening stand of 167.
England did not help themselves, Kate Cross, Amy Jones and Dunkley all spilling difficult chances before Verma, who was 10 the last time India played a Test, attempted to reach three figures in the grand manner off Cross but could only find a tumbling Shrubsole at mid-off.
It was the cue for an India collapse, Mandhana falling in similar style for 78 before England’s spinners in Sophie Ecclestone and Knight took three wickets between them to leave India in trouble at 185 for five, still 209 behind, with two days left.
While England’s spinners in Sophie Ecclestone and Knight took three wickets between them to leave India in trouble at 185 for five, still 209 behind, with two days left