In a historic women’s Test match at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, Deepti Sharma’s outstanding performance led India to a colossal 347-run victory over England, marking the largest margin in women’s Test history. This surpasses Sri Lanka’s 1998 record of a 309-run win over Pakistan in Colombo. This triumph, India’s first home victory against England in 15 Tests, boosts their confidence ahead of the upcoming one-off Test against Australia.
Deepti Sharma showcased her all-around brilliance, contributing a patient 67 runs in India’s first-innings total of 428. However, her real impact came with the ball, as she wreaked havoc on England’s lineup, securing a remarkable 9-wicket haul in the match. Her sensational spell of 5.3-4-7-5 in the first innings gave India a substantial 292-run lead. In the second innings, Deepti continued her dominance, claiming 4/32. Although she narrowly missed a 10-wicket match haul, she joined the ranks of legendary Jhulan Goswami.
Reflecting on her performance, Deepti Sharma credited the wicket’s assistance and expressed her gratitude for the guidance from teammate Harmanpreet, emphasizing the importance of bowling in specific areas.
On Day 3, England endured a torrid time, getting bowled out for 131 in 27.3 overs, with India taking all 10 wickets in the morning session. The Heather Knight-led side struggled throughout the match, being dismissed for 136 in the first innings. India’s captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, declared the overnight score at 186/6, setting England a formidable target of 479.
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England’s second innings saw a more resilient start from openers Tammy Beaumont and Sophia Dunkley. However, Renuka Singh’s delivery that straightened slightly proved decisive, sending Beaumont’s off-stump flying. Pooja Vastrakar then stole the spotlight with a double strike in her opening over, dismissing Dunkley and leaving Nat Sciver-Brunt clueless with a beautiful in-swinger. Despite a brief partnership between England captain Knight and Danny Wyatt, Vastrakar’s delivery outside the off stump resulted in Knight’s departure, as the ball swung enough to catch the edge of her bat.
