Highlights, England women vs India women, Only Test Day 4 at Bristol, Full cricket score: Bhatia, Rana headline visitors' well-fought draw
Highlights, England women vs India women, Only Test Day 4 at Bristol, Full cricket score: Bhatia, Rana headline visitors' well-fought draw
Admin
23:05 (IST)
That’s it then. Some effort by the Indian women to save the Test. They’ve really dug in and battled hard. Also goes to show the depth in their batting lineup. The match was firmly in England’s grip but India showed great resilience, especially Rana at the end, to salvage a draw. Earlier, Shafali was phenomenal and looked in a class of her own.
Goodbye for now but do join us as we’ll bring you the ball by ball commentary from the white ball leg of the series.
23:01 (IST)
Shafali Verma bags the Player of the Match in her debut Test.
22:46 (IST)
INDW 344/8 (f/o) after 121 overs (Rana 80, Bhatia 44)
Elwiss continues. Rana collects a four off the last after charging down the track and flicking it towards deep mid wicket. Seven runs off the over. But more importantly, the match is drawn
22:45 (IST)
FOUR! Rana charges down the track and flicks it towards deep mid wicket for a boundary.
22:41 (IST)
INDW 337/8 (f/o) after 120 overs (Rana 75, Bhatia 43)
Cross continues. Bowls it down the leg side off the third, poor line from her after so long, and Bhatia just tickles it towards fine leg for four. She also collects another four in the over as she swats the final delivery behind square. 10 runs off the over.
22:39 (IST)
FOUR! Bhatia swats it behind square. Second boundary of the over.
22:37 (IST)
FOUR! Down the leg side, poor line from Cross, Bhatia gets bat to and just helps the ball on its way towards fine leg.
22:36 (IST)
INDW 327/8 (f/o) after 119 overs (Rana 74, Bhatia 34)
Elwiss into her second over. Just one off the over. The lead is up to 162 now. Rana on 74, can she slam a century on debut here?
22:31 (IST)
INDW 326/8 (f/o) after 118 overs (Rana 74, Bhatia 33)
Cross continues. Once again, tight line and length from the pacer. Does well to induce an outside edge off the third but the ball hits Jones on the knee. Nasty blow there. But Jones is quick to get back up and resume. Just one off the over.
22:27 (IST)
INDW 325/8 (f/o) after 117 overs (Rana 74, Bhatia 32)
The minimum over count is 17 before the start of the over. Bowling change as Elwiss, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack for the first time. Two runs off the over, courtesy leg byes.
22:23 (IST)
INDW 323/8 (f/o) after 116 overs (Rana 74, Bhatia 32)
Cross with the ball. Bhatia outside edges the third delivery, it races away towards third man, allowing her to collect a double. Sharp bounce off the final delivery, it took Bhatia by surprise but she dealt with that with safe hands. Just two runs off the over.
22:19 (IST)
INDW 321/8 (f/o) after 115 overs (Rana 74, Bhatia 30)
Knight continues.The match, at this stage, is almost certain to end in a draw. India have a lead in excess of 155. England won’t bat again, it seems. But from India’s perspective, if Rana can notch up a ton, that’ll be really special. She has dug in there and battled it out very well. Two runs off the over.
22:17 (IST)
INDW 319/8 (f/o) after 114 overs (Rana 73, Bhatia 29)
Cross continues. She has been really spot on with her lines and lengths but wicketless so far. Another maiden over for her, her sixth out of the total 12 overs she’s bowled. India Women lead by 154 runs
22:13 (IST)
INDW 319/8 (f/o) after 113 overs (Rana 73, Bhatia 29)
Knight continues. Just one off the over as Rana defends the final four deliveries. India Women lead by 154 runs.
22:10 (IST)
INDW 318/8 (f/o) after 112 overs (Rana 73, Bhatia 28)
Some pace finally as Cross returns to the attack. Huge appeal for LBW off the fourth delivery against Rana, but that angle was always going down leg. England don’t have any reviews left either. Maiden over.
22:06 (IST)
INDW 318/8 (f/o) after 111 overs (Rana 73, Bhatia 28)
Spin operating from both ends as England skipper Knight continues. Just one off her over. India Women lead by 153 runs.
22:04 (IST)
INDW 317/8 (f/o) after 110 overs (Rana 72, Bhatia 28)
We’re back after the drinks break. Bhatia joins the party now as she whacks two fours in the over. Meanwhile, the partnership between Bhatia and Rana is worth 77 now, while the lead is in excess of 150.
22:02 (IST)
FOUR! And now, Bhatia goes on the backfoot and pulls it towards deep mid wicket.
22:01 (IST)
FOUR! Taniya Bhatia thrashes it through point. India lead by 148 runs now.
21:59 (IST)
INDW 309/8 (f/o) after 109 overs (Rana 72, Bhatia 20)
Knight continues. Four runs off the over, courtesy byes, as Rana gets lucky after failing to execute the slog sweep. Four runs off the over.
21:57 (IST)
FOUR! Byes. Rana goes for the slog sweep but the balls lobs past slip and races away towards the fine leg fence.
21:56 (IST)
INDW 305/8 (f/o) after 108 overs (Rana 72, Bhatia 20)
Ecclestone continues and gets thrashed for two consecutive fours from the blade of Bhatia, who is looking supremely confident with every shot. Nine runs off the over.
21:55 (IST)
FOUR! Two in two! Well, well. Now Bhatia cuts it past cover. Dunkley with a dive in the deep but it was in vain.
21:55 (IST)
FOUR! Down leg from Ecclestone, Bhatia rolls her wrists beautifully and sweeps it towards square leg.
21:53 (IST)
INDW 296/8 (f/o) after 107 overs (Rana 63, Bhatia 20)
Knight continues. Three runs off her over. The Indian batters still holding fort. And we’re in the final session. If things continue in a similar vein, we’re headed for a draw. Three runs off the over.
21:49 (IST)
INDW 293/8 (f/o) after 105 overs (Rana 60, Bhatia 20)
Just one run off Ecclestone’s over. Rana has carefully dealt with the left arm spinner. And does so in this over too. Just one off the over. The visitors lead by 128 runs.
21:49 (IST)
INDW 293/8 (f/o) after 105 overs (Rana 60, Bhatia 20)
Just one run off Ecclestone’s over. Rana has carefully dealt with the left arm spinner. And does so in this over too. Just one off the over. The visitors lead by 128 runs.
21:47 (IST)
INDW 292/8 (f/o) after 105 overs (Rana 59, Bhatia 20)
England skipper Knight returns to the attack. Overpitches off the penultimate delivery and Bhatia pierces the off side field to collect a four. Six runs off the over.
21:45 (IST)
Four! Nicely driven through the covers by Bhatia, it was overpitched from Knight and she paid the price.
21:43 (IST)
INDW 286/8 (f/o) after 104 overs (Rana 58, Bhatia 15)
Ecclestone continues. She’s been the standout bowler thus far. Another wicket and she’ll have her five-for. Just one off the over as he continues to keep things tight.
21:41 (IST)
INDW 285/8 (f/o) after 103 overs (Rana 58, Bhatia 14)
Sciver continues. Runs coming at a good pace for India now. Rana with another boundary in the over. Four runs off it. India Women lead by 120 runs.
21:38 (IST)
FOUR! Once again, Rana gets in the act and he cuts one through point to collect a boundary.
21:37 (IST)
INDW 281/8 (f/o) after 102 overs (Rana 54, Bhatia 14)
Ecclestone continues. Rana continues to give India hope, getting to her half century on her Test debut. And she is rightly appreciated by the teammates in the dressing room. Crucial knock from India’s perspective. Seven runs off the over. India lead by 116 runs.
21:34 (IST)
50! Great composure and intent shown by Rana, who now has a 50 on debut too, having earlier shone with the ball for India. Nine boundaries from her so far.
21:33 (IST)
INDW 274/8 (f/o) after 101 overs (Rana 49, Bhatia 12)
Sciver continues. Rana has looked comfortable at the crease and will be given a huge credit in case India salvage a draw here. She’s just one shy of a half-century now. Three runs off the over.
21:30 (IST)
INDW 271/8 (f/o) after 100 overs (Rana 47, Bhatia 11)
Ecclestone returns to the attack. Rana inside edges the second delivery onto her pad, that’s the line and length the spinner would be looking for. Another near escape off the final delivery as the ball falls wide of Beaumont at forward short leg. Could have been a five-for for Ecclestone there. Four runs off the over.
21:26 (IST)
INDW 267/8 (f/o) after 99 overs (Rana 45, Bhatia 9)
Sciver returns to the attack. Rana’s positive intent rubs onto Bhatia as she collects a four in the over, stretching India’s lead past 100 runs. Five runs off the over.
21:23 (IST)
FOUR! And now Bhatia gets into the attack as she pierces the off-side field to collect a boundary. Positive intent from the Indians.
21:22 (IST)
INDW 262/8 (f/o) after 98 overs (Rana 45, Bhatia 4)
Brunt continues. Rana continues to frustrate the England bowlers and she is growing in confidence too, as she collects a boundary off the third delivery after playing a classy cover drive. Four runs off the over.
21:19 (IST)
FOUR! Rana once again creams it through the covers for a boundary. She's growing in confidence here.
21:18 (IST)
INDW 258/8 (f/o) after 97 overs (Rana 41, Bhatia 4)
Ecclestone continues. India’s lead stretches past 90 as Rana smacks a boundary off the first, moving into her 40’s in the process. Huge responsibility on her shoulders here. Still a lot to be done. Five runs off the over.
21:16 (IST)
FOUR! Sneh Rana with an elegant cover drive and she moves into the 40’s.
21:14 (IST)
INDW 253/8 (f/o) after 96 overs (Rana 36, Bhatia 4)
Brunt continues. She is really giving it her all with this second new ball. England are pushing for victory here. But Rana is frustrating the hosts her. If Bhatia can hold her ground too, India may harbour hopes of a draw here. Just one off the over.
21:11 (IST)
INDW 252/8 (f/o) after 95 overs (Rana 35, Bhatia 4)
Ecclestone from the other end. Once again, attacking field from England - two slips, a silly point and a short leg. But Bhatia keeps her calm, defending through the over. Maiden over for Ecclestone, her 10th.
21:08 (IST)
INDW 252/8 (f/o) after 94 overs (Sneh 35, Bhatia 4)
Brunt begins the proceedings in the final session. Nine runs of her over as Rana collects two fours in the over.
21:06 (IST)
FOUR! Drifting onto the pads and Rana flicks it towards square leg. Lovely use of the wrists.
21:05 (IST)
FOUR! Outside edge of Rana’a bat and the ball races past gully for a boundary. Brunt, the bowler, is disappointed.
21:02 (IST)
We’re back live. Bhatia and Rana will resume the battle for India. Brunt will take the ball.
20:48 (IST)
Tea break, Day 4: It's been a testing session for India, with five wickets collapsing this session. Shikha Pandey and Sneh Rana had given a glimpse of hope with a 41-run stand for the seventh wicket. Rana lost Pandey, however, and will continue post tea with Taniya Bhatia at the other end. India lead by 78 runs with two wickets remaining. Join us for what should be an enthralling final session in a few minutes.
20:43 (IST)
INDW 243/8 (f/o) after 93 overs (Sneh 27, Bhatia 3)
Ecclestone continues. Bhatia picks a single towards third man, but this one's just edged past gully fielder. And players head off for the tea break. Just the one run from the over.
Live Score updates England Women vs India Women Test Day 4: Elwiss continues. Rana collects a four off the last after charging down the track and flicking it towards deep mid wicket. Seven runs off the over. But more importantly, the match is drawn.
Only 45.5 overs were bowled, but India will still have work to do when the match resumes on Saturday.
India resumed the day on 187-5, which was still 60 runs behind follow-on, but a flurry of wickets from Sophie Ecclestone put the visitors in trouble at 197/8. While England wasted no time in taking the second new ball, Anya Shrubsole wrapped up the Indians’ first innings at 231, half an hour before lunch. India were still 16 runs behind the follow-on total, and the hosts enforced follow-on thereafter.
India went to lunch at 29/1, having lost Smriti Mandhana early. The start of the post-lunch session was delayed by half an hour due to rain, and once play resumed, India surpassed the 50-run mark before rain played spoilsport once again. India went to the second rain break at 57/1, still trailing by 108 runs, but Shafali Verma (45*) was looking in good touch with Deepti Sharma (1*).
The match resumed once again after the rain receded few minutes later, and Shafali got to her second fifty of the match, thereby becoming the youngest woman to hit two half-centuries in a debut Test.
Rain halted play again around tea time, with India’s score reading 83/1, trailing the hosts by 82 runs. With the rain becoming heavy this time and refusing to recede, the umpires called for tea break, and with the rain continuing to play spoilsport, it was later decided that there would be an early stumps.
The duo of Shafali and Deepti have so far forged a partnership of 54 for the second wicket.
