England strike at Tea as India rebuild after Mandhana's departure

England hit back at the perfect time - England were a touch defensive early in the session, with Lauren Bell and Sophie Ecclestone unable to create many chances. The momentum shifted when Issy Wong returned, extracting movement and consistently asking questions of the batters before earning the breakthrough by dismissing Smriti Mandhana. Deepti Sharma then joined Harmanpreet Kaur but looked tentative, surviving a close caught-behind appeal. Battling cramps throughout the session, Harmanpreet's resistance finally ended on the stroke of Tea when Mady Villiers produced a beauty, leaving India with the task of rebuilding once again.

India tightened their grip through a commanding stand - Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana resumed with the same authority they had shown in the opening session, keeping the scoreboard moving with ease while denying the bowlers any breakthroughs. Their partnership swelled past the 50-run mark, with the skipper bringing up a fluent half-century along the way. India remained firmly in control for nearly an hour and a half before the momentum briefly shifted. Harmanpreet paused for treatment after suffering cramps, and in the very next over, Smriti fell for a superb 83. Her dismissal finally ended a commanding 89-run stand that had firmly put India in control.

A twist before Tea - SESSION SUMMARY - 80 runs and 2 wickets in 26.2 overs! Just when India looked set to head into Tea with the loss of only one wicket, Mady Villiers produced a sensational delivery to dismiss Harmanpreet Kaur and give England a timely breakthrough. The session had largely belonged to India, but the late strike handed the hosts a much-needed lift. England will now fancy their chances of testing a fresh middle order when play resumes.

W

Overs51.2

Score202 - 5

Mady Villiers to Harmanpreet Kaur, OUT! BOWLED! Completely outfoxed the Indian captain and that's the maiden Test wicket for Mady Villiers. A moment she will cherish for a long, long time. She gives it plenty of air, and lands it full and just outside off. It pitches and spins in sharply. Harmanpreet Kaur is lured in the flight and draws the front foot out to play the cover drive, but the ball rifles through the gap between her pad and the inside edge before rattling the stumps. A breakthrough that England needed desperately has come right at the stroke of the break. India are 202/5, and that will be TEA on Day 1!

0

Overs49.1

Score199 - 4

Mady Villiers to Deepti Sharma, Edged? Or not? A big shout for caught behind from the English players, but the umpire shakes her head and walks away. Nat Sciver-Brunt has a chat with the keeper and she opts for a review, challenging the on-field decision. This is pushed down the leg stump line from around the stumps, on a fuller length. Deepti Sharma sits down on a knee to play the sweep shot but the ball scoots low and seems to have missed the inside edge. And yup, that's the case. UltraEdge detects no spike and England have burnt another review. But to be fair, there was a clicking sound when the ball passed the bat/glove of Sharma. But she is safe.

Harmanpreet Kaur has called in for the physio. Looks like she has cramped up again, now in her legs, and is receiving a bit of treatment. The last time there was a small break like this, India Women lost the wicket of Smriti Mandhana. Pickle juice has done its trick, and we are good to go again.

1

Overs48.5

Score199 - 4

Lauren Filer to Deepti Sharma, Shapes away, full outside off. Deepti drives to the right of extra cover and calls her partner through for a run. Bell is set very deep at mid off and by the time she picks the ball, the batters get a single.

2

Overs46.4

Score196 - 4

Lauren Filer to Deepti Sharma, Oh, that could have easily dragged back on the stumps. Back of a length, around off. Deepti Sharma goes for a pull shot, but gets a thick inside edge. The ball bounces over the off stump and rolls to the right of the keeper and they hustle back for the second run.

0

Overs46.3

Score194 - 4

Lauren Filer to Deepti Sharma, Edged but short of first slip! Nips away sharply, on off and full. Deepti Sharma is drawn forward to defend, but the ball leaves her and takes the outside edge. But she plays with soft hands and the ball drops just in front of Nat Sciver-Brunt at first slip.

4

Overs45.5

Score194 - 4

Mady Villiers to Harmanpreet Kaur, FOUR! That's been rifled away! Very full and nicely looped up, outside off. Kaur gets on the front foot, reaches out and smashes it through the cover region for a cracking boundary.

The 89-run stand is broken between Smriti and Kaur as the Indian vice-captain misses out on an opportunity to notch up a century. Nonetheless, that was a knock of high quality from Mandhana. Deepti Sharma is in at number 6.

W

Overs44.5

Score190 - 4

Issy Wong to Smriti Mandhana, OUT! EDGED AND GONE! Issy Wong deserves this wicket as she has been superb in this spell. She goes a bit fuller this time, keeps the line just outside off and the ball straightens off the deck. Smriti Mandhana goes for the big drive away from her body and without much foot movement. She only manages to get a thin outside edge behind, where Amy Jones takes a sharp catch to her left. Smriti falls 17 short of a ton and India Women are 190/4 now.

1

Overs44.4

Score190 - 3

Issy Wong to Harmanpreet Kaur, Lands this on a good length and on middle, gets it to nip back in, Harmanpreet Kaur tries to play with a straight bat but gets an inside edge onto her pads as the ball rolls through square leg for a single.

Harmanpreet Kaur appears to be dealing with cramp in her left hand. The physio is out in the middle to treat her. Meanwhile, the other players take the moment to hydrate themselves. Kaur takes a swig of pickle juice to ease the cramp while the England players huddle together nearby. Harmanpreet wears her helmet back and looks good to continue.