India clinch series win at the CACG
Openers Tanisha Singh and Priya Punia registered assured half centuries as India A beat England A by 59 runs to win the three-match one-day international series 2-1 at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton.
India won the toss and ran up an imposing 281 for seven in their 50 overs, Punia top-scoring with 61 from 68 balls and Tanisha raising 58 from 72. Charley Phillips and Grace Scrivens took two wickets apiece for England, but useful contributions of 39 by Harleen Deol and 34 from Niki Prasad afforded the tourists the upper hand.
England struggled with the bat in the face of disciplined bowling, Charis Pavely making 62, Scrivens 46 and skipper Kira Chathli 39 as the home side were dismissed for 222 in 45.2 overs. The pick of the Indian bowlers, spinners Vaishnavi Sharma and Minnu Mani took three for 52 and three 39 respectively.
India were buoyed by a progressive opening partnership of 116 in 22.4 overs between Tanisha and Punia. Untroubled by the new ball, these two excelled against the change bowlers, picking the gaps and running hard to afford the innings early impetus.
Punia was first to 50, reaching that landmark via 53 deliveries with half a dozen fours. Demonstrating slick footwork, Tanisha also garnered six boundaries in raising a 67-ball half century as the stand realised three figures.
England needed a breakthrough and Scrivens obliged, removing both openers in the space of two overs after switching ends. Punia sent a loose drive to mid-off, while Tanisha was caught at the wicket as India reached halfway on 129 for two.
Ensuring there was no loss of tempo, Deol and Tejal Hasabnis exploited spin in adding 50 from 61 balls for the third wicket. Although Chloe Skelton had Hasabnis held in the deep for 24, Deol and Mani added 40 in quick time as India continued to dominate.
England hit back, Paveley removing Deol for 39 and Phillips bowling Mani for 31 as India slipped to 219 for five. But Prasad ensured there was no respite for the England bowlers, raising 34 from 29 balls before hoisting Phillips to Niamh Holland at deep mid-wicket in the final over.
Sayali Satghari and Saima Thakor rubber-stamped India’s authority with the ball, restricting England to just a solitary boundary in a 10-over powerplay that yielded 26 for the loss of Ella McCaughan. Scoring proved no less difficult against the spinners, Tanuja Kanwar taking a diving return catch to dismiss Abi Norgrove for 16 and Mani inducing Jodi Grewcock to hole out to deep square as England lurched to 43 for three.
Representing England’s last realistic hope, Scrivens was pinned lbw by Sharma’s slow left arm, departing for a 68-ball 48 with the score 84 for four at halfway. Chathli did her level best to force the issue thereafter, only to fall lbw to Mani as India pressed home their advantage.
When Sharma found the outside edge and had Holland caught behind for 22 and then persuaded Sophia Smale to hit to long-on with the score 177 for seven after 38 overs, the game was effectively up. Pavely went to 50 with a six off Kanwar, but it was too little too late for England.
At the close of a dramatic series, Somerset and England ‘A’ spinner, Chloe Skelton said: “I think India’s opening partnership was the difference between the two sides. The pitch was pretty flat to begin with and we were unable to break that partnership between Tanisha and Punia. Had we taken a wicket or two in the powerplay, it might have been a different story. It was definitely a day for batting first and, as such, a very good toss to win. The Indian bowlers got the ball to move around a bit and the spinners found some turn, which made things difficult for us. In the end, we lost wickets at key stages in the chase and were unable to build the partnerships needed to turn the pressure back on the opposition. Despite losing the series, this has been a great experience playing against top-level international players. I feel it has definitely helped me progress my game.
“Playing for England has been a lovely experience and stepping up against international opposition has definitely helped me improve my skillset. I’m now looking forward to taking that back into the rest of the domestic season and helping Somerset. Having players representing England is brilliant and it’s massive for the counties themselves. Playing for England exposes our players to different opposition and enhances their skills, which can only be a good thing going forward. It’s brilliant for girls coming through the younger age groups to see Somerset players representing their country, because that shows there is a pathway if you are hard working and determined enough. When I was a youngster, I definitely looked up to Heather Knight. She is just brilliant – very disciplined in everything she does and one of the best cricketers in the country. She is reaping the rewards for all her hard work and that’s inspirational for others to see. It’s important that young players have role models and, hopefully, Niamh Holland and I can fill that kind of role now that we are representing our country.”
