NEW DELHI: A sensational six-wicket haul by teenage sensation Kranti Goud and a blistering century by captain Harmanpreet Kaur powered India Women to a thrilling 13-run victory over England Women in the third and final ODI at the Riverside Ground, sealing the three-match series 2-1.
Goud Scripts History
Playing in just her fourth ODI, 19-year-old Kranti Goud delivered a match-winning performance, returning figures of 6/52 — becoming the second-youngest Indian woman to claim a five-wicket haul in ODIs, behind only Deepti Sharma (18y 179d). Only Purnima Choudhary, on debut, had previously taken a maiden five-for earlier in her Indian career.
Chasing a steep target of 319, England faltered early, losing both openers within the first two overs — both wickets claimed by Goud, who dismissed them for 4 and 2. But a resilient 162-run stand between Emma Lamb and skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt threatened to take the game away from India.
Lamb made a gritty 68 off 81 balls before Shree Charani broke the partnership in the 31st over. Sciver-Brunt continued the fight, but was dismissed just two runs shy of a century by Deepti Sharma for 98 off 105 balls, laced with 11 boundaries.
Alice Davidson-Richards added quick runs with a fiery 44 off 34, but Goud returned in the 48th over to remove her and dismissed Lauren Bell in the final over to shut the door on England. India sealed the game as England were bowled out in the final over, falling short by 13 runs.
Harmanpreet’s Heroics with the Bat
Earlier, India posted a commanding total of 318/5, led by a scintillating century from Harmanpreet Kaur, who scored 102 off 84 balls with 14 fours. It was her seventh ODI hundred and the second-fastest century by an Indian woman in ODIs.
India won the toss and opted to bat first with Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal opening the innings. The duo put up 64 runs before Rawal fell for 26 in the 13th over. Mandhana followed soon after for 45, including five boundaries.
Kaur then took charge alongside Harleen Deol, adding 81 runs for the fourth wicket. Deol made a steady 45 off 65 balls before falling to Lauren Bell. Jemimah Rodrigues joined Kaur and together they stitched a crucial 110-run partnership, with Rodrigues chipping in a handy 50 off 45 balls before falling in the 46th over.
A late surge by Richa Ghosh (38 off 18 balls, SR 211.11) propelled India past the 300-mark — their eighth 300+ total since January 2024.
For England, all bowlers managed a wicket each, with Sophie Ecclestone standing out as the most economical.
Milestone
Harmanpreet Kaur crossed the 4000 ODI run milestone, becoming only the third Indian woman after Mithali Raj and Smriti Mandhana to do so.
With this win, India clinched the series 2-1, capping off a dominant all-round performance and showcasing a new generation of match-winners in women’s cricket.
