The Indian Women’s Team played their first test match in seven years, as they faced their English opponents in the England W vs India W test match at the Bristol County Ground
2014 was the last time when the Indian Women’s Team played the longer format of the game against the Proteas Women’s Team at Mysore. There are only seven players in the current squad that played that winning match against South Africa.
Even the experienced players for India like Captain Mithali Raj, Vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana and fast bowler Jhulan Goswami have not played a test match in recent times. Going into the match, all eyes were on the Indian Women’s players, both the senior and younger folks on how would they perform giving that few of them are playing the red ball cricket after a long time.
England W vs India W Test Match
It were the debutants who shined for India. At the toss – England won and decided to bat first.
A moment they will remember for a long time! 🙌 🙌
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) June 17, 2021
📸 📸: When @TheShafaliVerma, @Deepti_Sharma06, @IamTaniyaBhatia, Sneh Rana & Pooja Vastrakar received their respective #TeamIndia Test caps from skipper @M_Raj03. 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/hNaWpZIet4
Debutants for India – Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Taniya Bhatia, Sneh Rana & Pooja Vastrakar had an amazing day on the field as each one of them played a vital role in turning the game towards India’s favour whenever it looked like England were comfortable .
On day 2, England declared on 396/9 (121.2 overs) and India was on 187/5 (60 overs) at stumps. Let’s look out at how the debutants performed for India. A total of eight wickets were shared between the debutant Indian bowlers, fast bowler Pooja Vastrakar took 1 wicket and both spinners Sneh Rana and Deepti Sharma took 4 and 3 wickets respectively.
Amazing Catches – by Taniya Bhatia and Shafali Verma
After the dropped catch of Lauren Winfield Hill by Smriti Mandhana early on the match – Pooja Vastrakar took her 1st ever Test wicket and gave India a breakthrough as she sent back England’s Lauren Winfield. It was also the 1st Test dismissal for wicket-keeper Taniya Bhatia who made no mistake as she took a sharp catch by diving to her right.
The partnership between Tammy Beaumont and England skipper Heather Knight started to look dangerous, as it had crossed the 50 runs mark. Here again two other debutants gave India a relief as Tammy Beaumont got out for 66 (of 144) as Shafali Verma took an amazing one handed catch and thus gave Indian spinner Sneh Rana her maiden Test wicket.
Deepti Sharma – Stopped a dangerous partnership and brought India back in the game
Natalie Sciver, got out on 42 (of 75) it was LBW, as Deepti Sharma picked up her maiden Test wicket which broke a dangerous partnership that was building up between Knight and Sciver.
Deepti Sharma then stopped Heather Knight with LBW as the England skipper got out on 95 (of 175) just five runs short of her century. This was Sharma’s second wicket. With the help of this wicket, it was clearly visible that India was back in the game.
On Day 2, Deepti Sharma took her 3rd Wicket that was of Sophie Ecclestone, it was a simple catch for Shikha Pandey.
Sneha Rana on a roll
Tammy Beaumont being Sneha Rana’s first wicket, Amy Jones for 1(of 9) who just arrived at the crease – got out on LBW which was bowled by Sneh Rana, was her second wicket. Her third wicket was of Georgia Elwiss , who got for 5 (of 11) as it was a simple catch for Deepti Sharma.
On Day 2, Anya Shrubsole who was looking very dangerous for India got out on 47 (of 33) thanks to Sneh Rana as she cleaned bowled her.
India W Get Off To A Pulsating Start Courtesy Of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma
After Innings Break, the Indian opening pair of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma started the Indian innings with a great start as the pair had a partnership of 167 runs – which is India’s highest first wicket partnership in Women’s Tests.
Both Shefali and Smriti scored their half century. Shefali made a record- she is the youngest opener to score a fifty on debut in Women’s Test history. Shefali was playing very well but got out on 96 (of 152), as she was trying to hit it big but Anya Shrubsole took a simple catch.
Verma was just four runs short of what could be a hundred on her debut. She broke the record for the highest individual score by an Indian woman cricketer on Test debut. Shefali Verma hit 13 fours and 2 sixes in this match.