India A women register resounding win over England A women to clinch 50-over series 2-1

After a 2-1 defeat in the T20 leg of the white-ball series, India A women bounced back in style, clinching the 50-over series 2-1 with a commanding 59-run win over England A women in the decider at The Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton.

Skipper Harleen Deol won the toss and chose to bat, and her openers gave the team the perfect start. Priya Punia and Tanisha Singh stitched together a 116-run stand in 22.4 overs, blunting England’s new-ball attack. Tanisha struck 58 off 72 balls with seven boundaries, while Punia compiled a fluent 61 off 68, peppered with six fours. Both fell in quick succession to the golden arm of Grace Scrivens, but Harleen and Tejal Hasabnis added 50 for the third wicket to keep the innings steady.

Harleen made 39 off 53, and Hasabnis chipped in with 24, but it was the lower order that gave India the final push. Minnu Mani blasted 31 off 23, and U19 World Cup-winning captain Niki Prasad added a lively 34 off 29 to lift India to a competitive 281/7. Scrivens (2/49) and Charley Phillips (2/36) were the pick of England’s bowlers.

Chasing 282, England A faltered early. Scrivens tried to hold the innings together with a fighting 46 off 68, but wickets kept tumbling around her. Left-arm spinner Vaishnavi Sharma trapped her LBW to leave the hosts reeling at 84/4. Skipper Kira Chathli showed resistance with 39 off 53, but Sayali Satghare ended her stay.

A spirited stand between Charis Pavely (62 off 52) and Niamh Holland (22 off 24) briefly kept England in the hunt, but Vaishnavi broke the partnership in the 37th over. Satghare then dismissed Pavely in the 43rd, effectively ending England’s hopes. The hosts were bowled out for 222 in 45.2 overs.

India’s bowlers shared the spoils: Mani and Vaishnavi picked up three wickets each, while Satghare and Tanuja Kanwar chipped in with two apiece.