Mumbai: India's spin bowling all-rounder Deepti Sharma claimed 9 wickets in a match including a fifer in the first innings as India women's registered a comprehensive win over England women's in the one-off test by 347 runs played at DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai. This is also the biggest win in terms of run margin for Indian women in test cricket history.
Deepti Sharma claimed a staggering 9-39 in the match, achieving the second-best bowling figure by India Women in test cricket. However, India's former legendary pacer Jhulan Goswami is leading the chart with a 10-wicket haul against the same team in Taunton on August 29, 2006.
Deepti Sharma, who had destroyed England in their first innings with a five-wicket haul for seven runs, proved the wrecker-in-chief once again and pacer Pooja Vastrakar contributed with a 3-23 haul while Rajeshwari Gayakwad picked 2-20 as Harmanpreet Kaur's team defeated England Women for the first time at home. In 14 previous Tests, India Women had defeated England twice with both wins coming away in England.
Earlier on Saturday morning, India declared their second innings on the overnight score of 186/6, setting up the stage for pacers Renuka Singh Thakur and Pooja Vastrakar to exploit the assistance offered by the pitch in the morning. Vastrakar bagged three wickets and Renuka one as the Indian pacers provided India a huge chance to emerge victorious.
When Deepti Sharma struck her first blow in the second innings, England were 68/5 in the 15th over and India were already cruising toward victory.
Opener Tammy Beaumont and Sophia Dunkley put on 27 for the opening wicket before Renuka struck the first blow, bowling Tammy to cap a testing over. Beaumont, who was expected to be England's main batter after scoring a double century in their previous Test, got out for 17 off 26 balls. Vastrakar then made it 37/3 with two wickets off two balls in the 10th over, sending back Dunkley and all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt in succession.
England skipper Heather Knight struck 14 runs off a Renuka Singh over, hitting the 27-year-old pacer from Himachal Pradesh three boundaries in an over, two of them back-to-back -- two wristy flicks. However, Her knock was cut short by Vastrakar, who plotted her downfall with a beautiful delivery.
Vastrakar picked her third wicket of the day when she induced an edge behind from Knight, the delivery going straight after the previous few balls had moved in a bit. Heather Knight prodded at a delivery pitched outside off and Yastika Bhatia caught a straightforward catch.