Harleen Deol ton in vain as India Women lose to ECB Development XI in warm-up One-Day fixture
India Women slumped to an 18-run loss against ECB Women's Development XI in a 50-over warm-up fixture at The County Ground, Beckenham here on Tuesday.
After opting to bowl, India was put under pressure by the assured 196-run opening stand between Emma Lamb and Maia Bouchier. N. Sree Charani broke the partnership, dismissing Lamb in the 29th over. Bouchier, who made a sprightly 84-ball 104, retired from play.
Charani, who made her ODI debut in April this year, was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets to her name. | Photo Credit: X/BCCI Women
While skipper Hollie Armitage was dismissed courtesy a hit wicket off Charani's bowling, the English middle order came together to brave India's bowling attack. Alice Davidson-Richards (42 off 49 balls), and 34-run knocks from Paige Scholfield and Danni Wyatt Hodge helped England put up a score of 353 for the loss of five wickets. Charani, who made her ODI debut in April this year, was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets to her name.
India's chase did not get off to the best start with Mahika Gaur dismissing Smriti Mandhana for a solitary run. Shafali Verma, who has found herself out of reckoning for the One-Day squad, surprisingly featured in this fixture and was sent in to open. However, any chance of making this a statement fixture vanished when she was dismissed by Ryana MacDonald-Gay for a 13-ball 16.
Harleen Deol stitched two key partnerships, a 105-run stand with Yastika Bhatia and a 44-run stand with Harmanpreet Kaur (in picture). | Photo Credit: X/BCCI Women
Harleen Deol then took on the responsibility of keeping India's score ticking. Despite going at about a run a ball initially, she slowed down as she anchored the chase, retiring with 91-ball 100 to her name.
Comparison of the two centurions in this fixture | Photo Credit: Stats: ECB
Key contributions from Yastika Bhatia (45-ball 32), Amanjot Kaur (32-ball 43) and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur who scored a fluent fifty (47-ball 54) to get India close. However, India's age-old issues with its tail came back to hurt its chances, with the side falling short by 18 runs.
The warm-up is one of two preparatory games slotted for the visitors ahead of the white ball tour of England which features five T20Is and three ODIs.
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