OTD | India Women scripted history in 2023 with exceptional win on their first Test at home in nine years

On this day in 2023, the India women won their first Test match in nine years at home by overcoming the visiting English women’s team by a whopping 347 runs in Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Cricket Stadium. A collective team effort helped the home side to claim a win against one of the best Test teams in the world. Deepti Sharma bagged the POTM award for her all-round performance in the match.

Batting first, India posted a good total of 428 runs on the board. No batter stood out, particularly in the innings. However, four batters scored over 60 runs while the skipper Harmanpreet Kaur scored 49. S Shubha was impressive with her fast 69(76). Likewise, Jemimah Rodrigues made a fluent 68(99). Yastika Bhatia scored 66 runs in 88 balls.

Deepti managed to score 67 runs in 113 balls. Sneh Rana was handy with her 30(73) as India ended their first innings with a score of 428 runs. In reply to it, England posted just 136 runs in their first innings. Apart from Nat Sciver-Brunt who scored a 59, other batters couldn’t apply themselves. Deepti bowled a terrific spell of 5.3-4-7-5.

Despite having a lead of 292 runs, India batted again. They scored 186/6 before declaring their innings. The target for England was a massive 479, which was nearly out of reach. The visiting side could not put up enough of a fight even in the second innings. They were bundled out for just 131 runs in their second innings. India claimed a massive 347 runs.

While Nat Sciver fought hard in the first innings, no particular batter stood out in the second innings for England. They fell one by one like a pack of cards. Deepti starred with the ball yet again by picking 4/32. Pooja Vastrakar helped her with 3/23. It was India’s first Test win at home since 2014. Sharma was rightfully declared the POTM for her performance in all the innings as a batter and as a bowler.

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