England Women established their class during their eight-wicket win against India Women in the first One Day International. The teams are moving to County Ground, Taunton now for the next ODI. India have happy memories here. They had won a Test match in 2006. Four years before that, present captain Mithali Raj had set a world record individual score of 214.
England were the superior team in all departments in the first ODI. India could put up only 201/8, which England chased down comfortably with more than 15 overs to spare. Raj top-scored with 72, but India’s none of India’s top three scorers managed a strike rate of 70. This issue of losing their way in the middle overs has remained a consistent issue for the Indians.
The Indian hopes rest on the young shoulders of Shafali Verma, who debuted in the first ODI. She has aced T20 cricket and demonstrated her ability to counter seam and swing with two fifties on Test debut at Bristol. There is little doubt that she will ace the ODI cricket as well. At the same time, India will expect Smriti Mandhana to take the lead.
India back experienced players like Harmanpreet Kaur and Punam Raut just this once. With youngsters like Priya Punia, Jemimah Rodrigues, and the uncapped Indrani Roy in the wings, time may be running out for at least one of them.
India may also opt to change their spinner. They may want to bring in one of Poonam Yadav or Radha Yadav for Ekta Bisht. After her memorable performance in the Test match, backing her in this format only makes sense.
England, however, need not look to make any change to the eleven. So strong is their outfit that even key players like Fran Wilson did not feature in the XI in the first ODI. England’s focus would be to replicate the same performance for similar success.
Head-to-Head
After the last win, England Women currently enjoy a dominating 23-5 record at home against India. Overall, the record reads 38-30 in favour of the hosts.
Likely XIs
England Women: Lauren Winfield-Hill, Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight (c), Nat Sciver, Amy Jones (wk), Sophia Dunkley, Katherine Brunt, Sarah Glenn, Sophie Ecclestone, Anya Shrubsole, Kate Cross.
India Women: Shafali Verma, Smriti Mandhana, Punam Raut, Mithali Raj (c), Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Pooja Vastrakar, Shikha Pandey, Jhulan Goswami.
Prediction
England Women to take a 2-0 lead in the series.