Preview: Will India hold their nerves to whitewash England?

Maithilee Shetty

27 Feb 2019 00:00 IST

New Update

Match Preview: India v England – Semi-final 2 — India and England team. ©ICC

Preview: India vs England - 3rd ODI

Date: 28 February 2019

Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

India has cemented the series with a 2-0 lead against England. They have dominated throughout the series to derail England’s hope to win their first ever series in India.

India has swept four ICC Women’s Championship points which has elevated them to the second position while England has remained constant at the seventh position.

India’s bowling unit has been formidable and consistent, with Jhulan Goswami who has been ranked ICC ODI No.3. She has been proven time and again that she is a match winner. Alongside her, Shikha Pandey who has been continuing her form from the tour of New Zealand, got her career-best figures of 4 for 18 in the second ODI. Also, Ekta Bisht who played a crucial role in first ODI with a 4 wicket haul. Mithali Raj, Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues have been amongst runs to support the bowling.

Although England’s batting has toppled, the leading run-getter is Natalie Sciver with 129 to her name. England has to reflect back at the drawing board to evaluate their performance.

England will look to fight back and defend their “pride” and gain two more ICC Women’s Championship points to elevate them to the fifth position.

Key Players

Shikha Pandey: Shikha Pandey has been gaining confidence and performing exceptionally well from the start of 2019. Pandey is also the leading wicket-taker of the series with 6 wickets in two matches. Also, she has 63 wickets in her 5 years long ODI career.

Natalie Sciver: Nat Sciver has been consistent throughout the series and will look to perform a match-winning knock to help her team win the last ODI. Being an all rounder, she can take wickets alongside scoring runs.

Who Said What

“So, we have had this happy knack of getting the ODI series. It is the start of something new (but) we would like to take the level a little higher and win it 3-nil. That’s our next goal.”- Shikha Pandey

“In both games batting wise, we have not given the true account of ourselves. We have not lived up to the way, we know, we can play. “ -Heather Knight

Probable XI

India: Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Mithali Raj (c), Mona Meshram, Punam Raut, Taniya Bhatia (wk), Jhulan Goswami, Shikha Pandey, Ekta Bisht, Poonam Yadav

England: Tammy Beaumont, Amy Jones, Sarah Taylor (wk), Heather Knight (c), Nat Sciver, Lauren Winfield, Georgia Elwiss, Katherine Brunt, Sophie Dunkley, Laura Marsh, Anya Shrubsole

India Jhulan Goswami Punam Raut Smriti Mandhana England Anya Shrubsole Laura Marsh Tammy Beaumont Amy Jones Katherine Brunt Jemimah Rodrigues Deepti Sharma Georgia Elwiss Nat Sciver Shikha Pandey Ekta Bisht Mona Meshram Poonam Yadav Taniya Bhatia (wk) Heather Knight (c) Mithali Raj (c) Sarah Taylor (wk) Sophie Dunkley