On this day in 2022, history was written when Harmanpreet Kaur led the India Women’s team to their first-ever ODI series win in England after 23 years. The captain’s sensational knock of 143* off 111 balls in the second ODI at Canterbury set the foundation for a commanding victory and clinched the series for India.
England won the toss and chose to field, but India capitalized early with Smriti Mandhana and Yastika Bhatia building a solid 96-run partnership. However, it was Kaur’s remarkable innings that truly took the game away from England. She was in impeccable form, hitting 18 boundaries and 4 sixes, taking India to a formidable 333/5—India’s highest-ever score against England in an ODI.
Kaur’s innings was a mix of calculated aggression and composure, punishing the English bowlers on both sides of the wicket. England’s Sophie Ecclestone, one of the world’s leading spinners, could not contain Kaur, who attacked with relentless stroke play.
A remarkable farewell for Jhulan Goswami!
England’s chase got off to a decent start with Danni Wyatt scoring 60 runs. However, the Indian bowling attack, led by Renuka Singh Thakur, dismantled the hosts. Thakur’s 4/57 was crucial in restricting England to 245, resulting in a comprehensive 88-run win for India. The bowlers delivered a disciplined performance, consistently applying pressure, while the fielders backed them up with sharp work, turning the match in India’s favour.
This victory was especially significant as it marked a historic achievement for India in England, breaking a decades-long drought since their last series win in 1999. It also served as a perfect farewell to veteran pacer Jhulan Goswami, who was playing her last series in England. Harmanpreet Kaur’s captaincy and her match-winning performance highlighted her immense contributions to Indian cricket.
This series win was not just a personal triumph for Kaur, but a turning point for Indian women’s cricket on the global stage. It demonstrated India’s growing stature in world cricket and its ability to compete with the best, even on foreign soil.
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