India’s Women Cricket Team Just Schooled England in the 1st ODI—Here’s How
Man, what a game! The Indian women’s cricket team just pulled off a proper thriller against England in the first ODI, winning by 4 wickets with 8 balls to spare. And let me tell you, it wasn’t just a win—it felt like payback for all those close losses we’ve had against them before. The kind of match that makes you yell at your TV one minute and jump off the couch the next.
How It Went Down: The Nitty-Gritty
England’s Innings: They managed 250/7 in their 50 overs. Decent total, right? But here’s the thing—it could’ve been way worse for us if our bowlers hadn’t stepped up big time early on.
Our Chase: Started shaky, got steady, then nearly wobbled again before Jemimah Rodrigues—cool as a cucumber—finished it off. Typical Indian cricket drama, honestly.
Pitch Report: Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium played tricks all day. Fast bowlers had fun early, then spinners came into play. By the end? Let’s just say batting wasn’t exactly a walk in the park.
Why We Actually Won (No Fluff)
1. Our Bowlers Were Savage
Renuka Singh and Deepti Sharma? Absolute fire in the first 10 overs. And then our spinners—Pooja Vastrakar and Rajeshwari Gayakwad—just squeezed the life out of England’s middle order. They barely got 4 runs an over during that phase. Game changer.
2. Smriti and Harmanpreet Said “Not Today”
We lost a couple early wickets (because of course we did). But then Smriti Mandhana (72 off 82) and Harmanpreet Kaur (47 off 58) happened. That 98-run partnership? That’s where the match turned. Proper captain’s knock from Harmanpreet—she’s been in iffy form lately, but today? Vintage stuff.
3. Small Things That Won Us The Game
Smriti’s diving catch to get rid of England’s dangerman. Harmanpreet throwing the ball to Yastika Bhatia—who isn’t even a regular bowler—at just the right moment. These little moments add up, you know?
Heroes of the Day
Player of the Match: Smriti Mandhana (no surprises there)—72 runs plus that crucial catch. Woman was everywhere.
Underrated MVP: Deepti Sharma. Took 2 wickets, scored 22*, and probably made someone’s tea in between. The ultimate utility player.
England’s Best: Sophie Ecclestone. Took 3 wickets and tried her hardest to drag England back into it. Respect.
Why This Win Feels Extra Sweet
Remember that heartbreaker at Lord’s last year? Last ball loss? Yeah, this felt like finally scratching that itch. More importantly, it shows we’re learning how to win these tight games—just in time with the World Cup coming up.
What’s Next?
Second ODI’s in Mumbai on the 24th. If our middle order stops giving us mini heart attacks, we might just wrap this series up early. But England won’t roll over—their fast bowlers will come harder.
Twitter Went Bonkers (Obviously)
#IndWvsEngW was trending for hours. Anjum Chopra tweeted about “teamwork making the dream work”—cheesy but accurate. Funniest bit? Random folks replying to PM Modi’s motivational posts with cricket puns. Never change, Indian Twitter.
Final Thoughts
This wasn’t just another win. It’s a statement that our women’s team is done being the “oh so close” team. They’re here to win the big moments. Mumbai’s gonna be lit—don’t miss it.
Source: Navbharat Times – Default
