Xtra Time Web Desk: Jhulan Goswami’s achieved historic mark and Meghna Singh’s experiments with the ball were outdone by Indian batters’ inconsistency as Team India Women’s team suffered their second defeat in the ICC Women’s World Cup league stage match while the defending champions England returned to winning ways after three successive defeats in the ongoing tournament.
Goswami scripted history as she became the first women’s cricketer to take 250 wickets in a WODI when she dismissed England opener Tammy Beaumont for 1 at Bay Oval. Goswami is also the only bowler to take over 200 wickets in women’s ODI history.
England rode on captain Heather Knight’s heroic fifty to chase down the 135-run target and end their three-match losing streak after India produced a below-par effort to be bundled out for a meager 134 on Wednesday.
The previous game’s centurion Smriti Mandhana (35) top-scored, while wicketkeeper batter Richa Ghosh made 33 before England bowled out India in 36.2 overs after opting to field first.
It was in sharp contrast to India’s performance against the West Indies in their last match when they rode on centuries from Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur to post 317 for 8, their highest total in the history of the showpiece event.
Charlie Dean (4/23) was the pick of the bowlers for England, while Anya Shrubsole also chipped in with two wickets as the Indians failed to build a decent partnership. Having suffered three defeats from as many matches so far, it was a must-win match for titleholders and four-time champions England.