India defeated England convincingly in Canterbury, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the one-day international series because of Harmanpreet Kaur's towering and undefeated century. England's best chance now is to claim the two ICC Women's Championship points on offer in a consolation victory after winning the T20I leg of the tour 2-1. However, India's 88-run victory, built on Harmanpreet's 143 not out off 111 balls, means that Saturday's finale at Lord's will be a dead rubber in the context of the series.
After India produced 333 for 5, their second-highest total in the format, England was asked to complete the first 300-plus run chase in a women's ODI, managing 245 in response. Danni Wyatt's half-century came in a losing cause, as Renuka Singh claimed four wickets to seal the outcome.
England knew the key to forcing the series to a conclusion was to lessen the threat of India's firing top order after choosing to bowl in chilly and gloomy conditions. When Kate Cross, playing in her 50th ODI, dismissed Shafali Verma in the first over of the game, England had a promising start. Charlie Dean then took a brilliant return catch to dismiss Yastika Bhatia and end a second-wicket stand of 54.
While peeling off four fours and smashing Sophie Ecclestone over the fence at wide long-on on her way to 40, opener Smriti Mandhana once more appeared menacing. Ecclestone, though, put a stop to Mandhana's knock with a shot that swung back in to avoid the attempted sweep and struck the side of her back leg for a knockout. At that point, Mandhana and Harmanpreet had added 33 runs together, and they continued smoothly with Harleen Deol to maintain a good tempo.
Ecclestone was defeated by Deol for six to get her up to 47, and she reached Ecclestone's fifty with a single dab through midwicket shortly after. Deol later carried India above the 200-run mark with another six, stroked over deep square leg off Lauren Bell. India was on pace to make an impressive total when Bell bowled Deol, who was caught by Wyatt at deep midwicket. Harmanpreet was also in a great rhythm.
A nasty slog from Ecclestone over the deep-midwicket boundary was bookended by two sixes from Harmanpreet over the covers off debutant Freya Kemp. Harmanpreet also used her trademark slog sweep to lethal effect.
Kemp, a left-arm seamer for England's T20I team who has had a successful debut international summer, had a difficult transition to the longer format. Kemp is 17 years old. She began her 10-over assignment by bowling seven over for 28 runs, but she ultimately gave up 82 runs for just one wicket, Pooja Vastrakar, who was caught by Emma Lamb in the 46th over. It was followed by fellow seamer Bell, who took 1 for 79 from 10 overs, as the England bowler with the most runs allowed in a women's ODI.
After Vastrakar was dismissed, Harmanpreet and Deepti Sharma added another 71 runs at an astounding partnership run rate of 17.75, which is the greatest for a 50-plus stand in women's ODIs for which data is available.
They scored 62 runs in the final three overs, with 26 of those coming off the 48th over, which saw Kemp hit three fours and a six while also sending down six wides. Harmanpreet scored 18 of the 19 runs Kemp allowed off the last over, including three straight fours immediately after another aerial cover drive for six to cap off an amazing performance.
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