Indian eves lose 2nd ODI by 13 runs, England clinch series

Scarborough: Indian women paid the price for losing their cool during the death overs as they lost second successive ODI against England eves by 13 runs to concede the three-match series here on Saturday.

England scored a moderate 214 for nine riding on skipper Charlotte Edwards` patient century. In reply, India were well in the hunt till the 40th over before folding for 201 in 48.4 overs.

Harmanpreet Kaur (43), Smriti Mandhana (32) and Mithali Raj (30) got starts but none went to guide the team to victory as medium pacer Jenny Gunn was the most successful bowler with four for 23 in 10 overs.

Bespectacled opener Smriti Mandhana (32), who has been in good form again started off well only to lose her way after getting set. She shared a 39-run opening stand with Poonam Raut (11), who was foxed by a slower from seamer Kate Cross offering a simple return catch.

Karuna Jain (1)`s woeful tour continued as she was adjudged leg before off an incutter from Jenny Gunn. Mandhana and skipper Mithali Raj (30) were settling down into a nice little stand when the left-handed opener became Gunn`s second victim.

Raj was slowly building her innings during her 50 ball knock that had two boundaries but Heather Knight bowled a beautiful incoming delivery that caught her plumb in-front.

At 97 for four, VS Vanitha (23) joined Harmanpreet Kaur as they added 41 runs for the fifth wicket. The stand-out shot definitely was Vanitha`s straight loft off Cross`s bowling that went for a one-bounce four.
Vanitha was gone when Anya Shrubsole was brought back for her second spell by Edwards as the batsman chased an away going delivery which was smartly snapped by Taylor standing upto the bowler.

Jhulan Goswami (18) came in played in her customary attacking style. He thumped Shrubsole for a four and then pulled slow bowler Danielle Hazell for a six over square leg.

But just when another partnership (33 runs) was building, a Jenny Gunn delivery stopped on Goswami and resultant catch was gleefully accepted by the seamer.

Once Harmanpreet Kaur (43 off 61 balls) was caught by Gunn at the long-on boundary ropes off Anya Shrubsole, it was all over for Raj's girls as they wilted under pressure despite having the asking rate under control.

Earlier Edwards played a skipper's knock as he scored more than of her team's runs during her innings of 108 off 145 balls, which had 11 boundaries.

While Edwards carried her bat through remaining unbeaten, the only significant partnership she had was of 50 runs for the second wicket with Sarah Taylor (23). Taylor, incidentally was the second highest scorer for the home team.

While veteran pacer Goswami returned with impressive figures of three for 30 with couple of key wickets in the middle order, young off-spinner Rajeshwari Gaekwad had the best figures of four for 42 among the Indian bowlers.

Brief Scores: England 214/9 in 50 overs (Charlotte Edwards 108, Sarah Taylor 23, Jhulan Goswami 3/30, Rajeshwari Gaekwad 4/42).

India 201 in 48.4 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 43, Mithali Raj 30, Smriti Mandhana 32, Jenny Gunn 4/23). England won by 13 runs. England eves lead 3-match series 2-0.