Third Metro Bank one-day international, Banks Homes Riverside
India 318-5 (50 overs): Harmanpreet 102 (84), Rodrigues 50 (45)
England 305 (49.5 overs): Sciver-Brunt 98; Goud 6-52
India won by 13 runs
England were well beaten by India in their winner-takes-all third one-day international in Chester-le-Street as the tourists clinched a 2-1 series win.
After a ragged performance in the field left England needing a women’s ODI record 319 for victory, the hosts were 8-2 in the third over after Kranti Goud dismissed openers Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones.
Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt put on 162 with Emma Lamb, who supported with 68, to resurrect the chase but gloved a catch down the leg side on 98.
From there 121 runs were still needed and, despite 34 from Sophia Dunkley, 44 from Alice Davidson-Richards and 21 from Charlie Dean, it always felt an England win was a long shot.
Dunkley was run out in disappointing fashion in the 40th over and, despite some lower-order hitting reducing England’s margin of defeat to 13 runs, 21-year-old seamer Goud returned to wrap up the lower order and finish with 6-52 – her maiden five-wicket haul.
England were bowled out for 305 in the final over.
Earlier, not helped by a series of misfields, they were unable to stop India piling up 318-5 with India captain Harmanpreet Kaur stroking 102 from 84 balls.
Spinner Sophie Ecclestone, who revealed before the game that she considerd quitting after the fallout of England’s Ashes defeat, conceded only 28 from her 10 overs but the rest of the attack all went at more than six runs per over.
While opener Smriti Mandhana and number three Harleen Deol both made 45 for India, it was a stand of 110 from just 77 balls between Harmanpreet and Jemimah Rodrigues, who made 50 from 45, which took the game away from England.
The result means India follow their victory in the T20 series with another in the ODIs and leaves England with plenty to ponder.
They do not play again in 50-over cricket before departing for the World Cup in India in late September.
England flattered by scoreline as India clinch series
On paper this looked a close game. In reality India played the better cricket throughout.
Had Sciver-Brunt, who began her reign as skipper by sweeping aside West Indies at the start of the summer, pulled off her latest rescue act it would have only papered over the cracks. They have been well short when India have provided a step up in class.
Goud, playing in her fifth international, was more accurate and found more movement than England’s seamers. A nip-backer to bowl Beaumont for two in the first over was the pick of her wickets.
Afterwards the most obvious difference between the sides was in the field.
Deepti Sharma dived one-handed to dismiss Jones and, with 55 needed from 30 balls, Rodrigues took a tumbling catch to see off Dean and end England’s quest once and for all. The 46th over, bowled by the impressed Goud, included that wicket and only two runs.
Sciver-Brunt was unfortunate to glove a ball speared down the leg side by Deepti when attempting a sweep. She remains the class act in a struggling team.
Next comes The Hundred, perhaps a welcome distraction for the England skipper. After that she will lead England at a World Cup for the first time and on this evidence her side look a class below the rest.