ENG vs IND, 2nd ODI: Harmanpreet Kaur’s breathtaking Hundred powers India to a massive victory

India had the chance to script history in Canterbury on Wednesday and they took it with both hands as they won the second ODI against England by a massive 88-run margin to register their first bilateral series win in English conditions since 1999.

Harmanpreet Kaur, the Indian skipper, was the protagonist of this historic win as she played a brilliant knock of 143* off just 111 deliveries to power India to a massive total of 333/5. Harleen Deol also supported her well as she played a good knock of 58 off just 72 deliveries. As far as the England bowling goes, each of their five bowlers picked up a wicket each. But Freya Kemp and Lauren Bell turned out to be quite expensive as they leaked 82 and 79 runs in their quota of 10 overs respectively.

England needed a good start to get anywhere close to India’s massive total but they didn’t get that as Renuka Singh Thakur delivered a sensational new ball spell yet again. England lost their first wicket of Tammy Beaumont courtesy of a brilliant run-out executed by Harmanpreet. It was all Renuka after that as she increase England’s miseries further.

She cleaned up Sophia Dunkley in the fourth over and then sent Emma Lamb back to the pavilion, trapping her plumb in front of the wicket. Alice Capsey and Danielle Wyatt led England’s recovery after that as they put on a stand of 55 runs. They were going well but Capsey departed soon for an individual contribution of 39.

Wyatt established another good stand of 65 runs with Amy Jones after that, but the flood gates opened once Wyatt departed. England lost their next three wickets in the space of just 16 runs. Although lower-order batters like Charlotte Dean, Kate Cross and Lauren Bell offered some resistance, India Ultima bowled England out for 245 runs, with 34 deliveries still remaining in the innings. As a result, India won the match by 88 runs and Harmanpreet Kaur was adjudged the Player of the Match for her superb knock.

Brief Scores:

India 333/5 in 50 Overs (Harmanpreet 143*, Deol 58; Dean 1/39)

England 245 All out in 44.2 Overs (Wyatt 65, Capsey 39; Renuka 4/57)

India won by 88 runs.