Mithali Raj played a magnificent innings to guide India to a five-wicket win against England in the fourth One-Day International as the host sealed the series 3-1 lead in the five-match series at the ACA-VDCA Stadium here on Friday.
She slammed an unbeaten 87 (13x4, 123b), her third consecutive half-century in the series. The former captain was unperturbed when the England bowlers gained early advantage, claiming three wickets for 69 runs by the 25th over.
Mithali ame in after Katherine Brunt trapped opener Anjum Chopra in front with only five runs on the board. She reached 50 (9x4, 76b) in style with a boundary off Jennifer Gunn.
Mithali, along with Sulakshana Naik, who replaced wicketkeeper Anagha Deshpande, and later with Rumeli Dhar and Amita Sharma attacked the English bowlers at will. Earlier, Charlotte lost the toss again and had to bat on a pitch that assisted seamers in the morning. She made a fine unbeaten knock 57 (5x4, 112b) to guide her team to a decent 152.
Later, Jhulan and Charlotte praised Mithali for her superb knock. Jhulan said Mithali was great and special. “Mithali always gives good suggestions and a role model for the entire team,” she said.
Charlotte said: “Even if we had scored 170 or more she might have scored a few more boundaries (and win the game for India)”.
Mithali was in great form and prolific against England in the recent past. “She is a thorn in our flesh”.
The scores :
England: Caroline Atkins st. Sulakshana Naik b Preeti 20, Ebnoy Rainford-Brent lbw Jhulan 12, Jennifer Gunn (run out) 3, Charlotte Edwards (not out) 57, Lydia Greenway c Rumeli b Gouhar 4, Beth Morgan c & b Preeti 20, Laura Marsh c Sulakshana b Rumeli 21, Nicola Shaw c Priyanka b Jhulan 1, Katherine Brunt c Amita Sharma b Jhulan 0, Tamsin Beaumont (not out) 0; Extras (b-5, lb-4, w-2, nb-3): 14.
Total (for nine wickets in 50 overs): 152.
Fall of wickets : 1-14, 2-26, 3-65, 4-74, 5-111, 6-111, 7-141, 8-146, 9-147.
India bowling : Jhulan 10-1-34-3, Rumeli 10-3-27-1, Amita 7-0-20-0, Preeti 10-1-18-3, Gouhar Sultana 9-0-29-1, Priyanka 4-0-15-0.
India : Punam G. Rout (run out) 10, Anjum Chopra lbw b Katherine 2, Mithali Raj (not out) 84, Priyanka Roy b Laura Marsh 3, Sulakshana Naik c Katherine Brunt b Charlotte Edwards 13, Rumeli Dhar c Nicola Shaw b Jennifer Gunn 13, Amita Sharma (not out) 15; Extras (b-3, lb-1, w-11, nb-1): 16. Total (for five wickets in 44.4 overs): 156.
Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-37, 3-59, 4-87, 5-128.
England bowling : Katherine Brunt 10-1-37-1, Nicola Shaw 8-3-17-0, Laura Marsh 10-3-25-1, Danielle Hazell 7-0-31-0, Jennifer Gunn 5.4-0-31-1, Charlotte Edwards 4-0-11-1.
