Xtra Time Web Desk: It was yet another lackluster performance from Mithali Raj and her team as India women lost to England women by five wickets in the 2nd ODI at Taunton on Wednesday. Indian captain once again anchored the innings to score her second consecutive fifty (59 off 92 balls) in the ODI series. For the hosts Sophia Dunkley struck a maiden ODI fifty (73*) as she was involved in an unbeaten 92 runs partnership with Katherine Brunt (33*) to see the team home after being in some sort of trouble at 133/5, chasing 222.
England won the toss and elected to field first, Kate Cross (5-34) claimed a five-for as India were bowled out for 221. Sophie Ecclestone also impressed, the left-arm spinner taking 3-33 from her 10 overs.
Indian openers Shafali Verma (44) and Smriti Mandhana (22) got India off to a great start putting up a fifty opening partnership before Cross bowled the later, chopping onto her stumps, in the 12th over.
Cross also saw the back of Jemimah Rodrigues (8) cheaply, while Ecclestone then saw the back of talented youngster Verma, stumped, courtesy of some quick reactions from Jones behind the stumps.Indian captain Mithali Raj (59 off 92 balls) rebuilt the Indian innings, but cautiously, with Harmanpreet Kaur (19) but there was another collapse when Kaur top-edged a return catch to Cross. India women lost six wickets for 47 runs to be reduced to 192/9 in the 47th over.
The final-wicket pair Jhulan Goswami (19no) and Poonam Yadav (10) saw the visitors push the score past 200.
In reply, England lost star batter Tammy Beaumont (10) and skipper Heather Knight (10) cheaply. Lauren Winfield-Hill (42 off 57) fired briefly, but then when she and Nat Sciver (19) departed in quick succession. But an unbeaten partnership of 92 runs by Sophia Dunkley and Katherine Brunt saw England women home with 15 balls to spare.