The highly anticipated second Women’s One Day International between India and England at Lord’s has been delayed due to persistent heavy rain and a wet outfield.
Weather Causes Lord’s Stoppage
Cricket fans eager for action at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground will have to wait, as the scheduled start for the second ODI has been pushed back. The match was originally set to begin at 11 AM local time (3:30 PM IST), with the coin toss slated for 10:30 AM local time.
However, the ground remained quiet at the scheduled start, with rain pouring down steadily. Both the Indian and English players were seen in their training gear on their respective dressing room balconies, awaiting clearer skies.
India Holds Early Series Lead
India heads into this match with strong momentum, having already secured a convincing four-wicket victory in the first ODI at the Rose Bowl. This win extends their impressive form from the T20I leg of the tour, where they also performed strongly.
England, on the other hand, finds themselves needing a win at Lord’s to keep their hopes alive in the three-match ODI series. A victory for India today would seal the series for the visitors.
First ODI Recap: A Thrilling Chase
In the opening match, England had set a challenging target of 259 runs for India. The visitors successfully chased this total down in 48.2 overs, securing a four-wicket win in a tightly contested finish.
Deepti Sharma was a standout performer for India, delivering a crucial unbeaten knock of 62 runs off just 64 balls. Her composure was vital in what proved to be a tricky chase.
India’s chase got off to a solid start with Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal, whose partnership has now exceeded 1000 runs in a mere 21 matches. However, Mandhana’s dismissal led to a slowdown, as Rawal and Harleen Deol struggled to accelerate.
The middle overs saw some dramatic moments. Pratika Rawal was dismissed by a superb delivery from Sophie Ecclestone, leading to a brief, spicy exchange between the players. Harleen Deol then fell in bizarre fashion, short of her crease after failing to ground her bat.
Captain Harmanpreet Kaur also departed quickly, but a match-defining partnership emerged between Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma. They steadily guided India closer to the target.
Deepti’s innings was highlighted by a powerful six over midwicket, the only maximum of the entire match. She remained at the crease after Richa Ghosh’s wicket, ultimately taking India across the finish line with Amanjot Kaur, securing the victory with 10 balls to spare.
- The second India vs England Women’s ODI at Lord’s is delayed due to heavy rain.
- India leads the three-match series 1-0 after winning the first ODI.
- Deepti Sharma was crucial in India’s four-wicket victory in the opening match with an unbeaten 62 runs.
- England needs a win at Lord’s to stay in contention in the series.
Fans will be eagerly awaiting further updates on the weather and the potential for play to commence at the historic venue.
