Women's World Cup, IND vs ENG live: India (17/1 in 5 ovs), Pratika departs as India lose early wicket

Harleen Deol took her time early on, scoring 2 runs off her first 11 balls, but she broke the shackles with two boundaries, first through fine leg after Lauren Bell sprayed the ball down the leg side and then a scorching cover drive. Much needed over for India.

India - 27/1 in 7 overs, chasing 289. Smriti Mandhana (8*), Harleen Deol (10*)

India are under early pressure, with the required run rate already climbing past a run-a-ball and the powerplay still underway.

Lauren Bell is extracting prodigious swing, keeping the Indian batters guessing as they try to adjust to the challenging English attack.

The responsibility once again falls on Smriti Mandhana to anchor the innings and go big, but she will need support from Harleen Deol and the other batters.

India also have the added challenge of being a batter short after dropping Jemimah Rodrigues for this match.

India - 17/1 in 5 overs, chasing 289. Smriti Mandhana (6*), Harleen Deol (2*)

WICKET!

What a start for England! Lauren Bell strikes early, removing Pratika Rawal. Rawal had begun positively with a backfoot drive through the covers but was soon undone.

Bell angled one outside off stump, and Pratika got a bottom edge, easily taken by Amy Jones. She didn’t even review the decision.

Harleen Deol now joins Smriti Mandhana at the crease.

India - 13/1 in 3 overs, chasing 289. Smriti Mandhana (4*), Harleen Deol (0*)

In the air and dropped. Pratika Rawal rocks back and looks to drive it away, but Charlie Dean, who was at the short covers, drops it here. India will be relieved to see that catch being dropped here. They can't afford to lose early wickets in this high-scoring chase.

India - 6/0 in 1.4 overs, chasing 289. Pratika Rawal (2*), Smriti Mandhana (3*)

Heather Knight opened up on her knock and her partnership with Sciver-Brunt that put England in a commanding position in the crucial encounter in Indore.

"Nice to contribute on a wicket more conducive to batting. Just above par so got to bowl well to defend it. Took some time to get in, a bit tacky, slow bounce," Knight said after the innings.

"Partnership with Nat, I was the one who was more aggressive, use my sweeps, seemed to be effective. Trying to maximise the last ten which we didn't do super-well."

"The outfield is fast, but if the seamers hold their lengths and go top of the stumps, put the pressure on them. It's a key game for them."

England’s innings was dominated by Heather Knight, whose 86-ball century anchored a formidable total. While her knock ensured England posted a strong score, they will be a bit disappointed to have missed the chance to push past 300.

Earlier, Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones laid a solid platform before Deepti Sharma broke their partnership. But Knight, alongside Nat Sciver-Brunt, steadied the innings with a classy century stand, regaining control for England.

India, while satisfied to have kept England below 300, still face a challenging chase as they look to register their first victory of the tournament.

Brilliant spell from Deepti Sharma! She finishes with impressive figures of 10-0-51-4. Her final scalp came in the form of Emma Lamb, who scored 11 off 10 balls.

Lamb attempted to clear the deep mid-wicket boundary but ended up holing out to Smriti Mandhana, who took the catch comfortably.

Sophie Ecclestone is the new batter at the crease.

England- 277/7 in 49 overs. Charlie Dean (12*), Sophie Ecclestone (1*)

WICKET!

England are losing wickets in quick succession as Sree Charani strikes, removing Sophia Dunkley just as she was starting to look dangerous.

Dunkley went for a big shot off Charani but couldn’t time it, and Deepti Sharma at long off held on to a simple catch.

Dunkley departs for 15 off 21 balls, and India will be delighted with this timely breakthrough.

England- 255/5 in 46 overs. Emma Lamb (3*), Alice Capsey (1*)

What a moment! It took something special to dismiss Heather Knight, and Amanjot Kaur delivered it. Knight attempted a risky second run, but Amanjot’s powerful, pinpoint throw from square leg sent her back short at the striker’s end.

The English skipper’s magnificent innings comes to an end — 109 off 91 balls.

Emma Lamb is the new batter at the crease.

England- 252/4 in 45 overs. Emma Lamb (2*), Sophia Dunkley (15*)

Century! Heather Knight reaches her third ODI hundred off just 86 balls! The ball turned one inside-out off Sree Charani, took the edge, and it sailed past the keeper as Knight brought up her milestone.

The ball raced to deep third, carrying all the way over the rope. Knight acknowledges the cheering crowd with a wave — a memorable hundred in her 300th international match!

England- 246/3 in 44 overs. Heather Knight (107*), Sophia Dunkley (13*)

After the wicket of Sciver-Brunt, the boundary flow slowed down, but Sophia Dunkley broke the shackles with a crisp boundary off Deepti Sharma.

Meanwhile, Heather Knight is marching into the 90s, looking every bit capable of reaching a well-deserved century.

With the solid platform built by Jones and Knight earlier, England would surely be disappointed if they fail to cross the 300-run mark.

England- 226/3 in 42 overs. Heather Knight (91*), Sophia Dunkley (9*)

Heather Knight is making full use of the sweep shot, keeping the Indian spinners on the back foot. She first drives Sneh Rana for a neat four with a sweep and follows it up with a classy reverse sweep for another boundary. Knight has really settled in and is seeing the ball like a football.

Nat Sciver-Brunt is set at the other end, though she hasn’t quite found the aggressive tempo she’s capable of — but there’s still plenty of time for the English skipper to accelerate.

England- 180/2 in 35 overs. Heather Knight (66*), Nat Sciver-Brunt (26*).

Heather Knight brings up her fifty off 54 balls, with the partnership with Nat Sciver-Brunt now worth 67.

Since returning from her hamstring injury, Knight has looked in complete control, marking her milestone with a classy boundary through a reverse sweep off Sneh Rana.

India will need to break this duo soon — if they continue untroubled, the hosts could face a challenging task later in the innings.

England- 165/2 in 33 overs. Heather Knight (52*), Nat Sciver-Brunt (26*).

Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight have now brought up a half-century partnership off 62 balls, steadying the ship after India struck early with the quick wickets of Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones.

The 32nd over proved pivotal — Knight smashed back-to-back boundaries off Sree Charani, who hasn’t been at her best after her three-wicket haul against Australia. England have picked up the pace, scoring 19 runs in the last two overs.

England- 156/2 in 32 overs. Heather Knight (45*), Nat Sciver-Brunt (23*).

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