India began Day 3 with a lead of 269 runs and Smriti Mandhana and Yastika Bhatia well set at the crease. By the time Harmanpreet Kaur declared, India had stretched that advantage to 457, completely batting England out of the contest as they toyed with the depleted bowling attack. With plenty of time, wickets in hand and a toothless England attack, India had the perfect opportunity to take the match completely away from the hosts.
Lauren Bell provided some spark in her opening and final spells of the day. Mandhana, however, once again gifted her wicket away after crossing the 70-run mark. Jemimah Rodrigues then fell to a superb delivery from Bell, but not before attempting an ill-advised scoop against a bowler who was extracting movement. The shot perhaps reflected the difficult mental space she finds herself in. Rodrigues will be hoping to put this England tour behind her because, apart from a few sporadic contributions, it has been a forgettable campaign.
Yastika Bhatia, though, emerged as the standout performer, earning a place on the Lord’s honours board with a magnificent century. It was an outstanding innings, and the manner in which she used her feet against the spinners highlighted her class. Richa Ghosh also joined the party with a fluent half-century, and Harmanpreet declared immediately after Richa reached her fifty.
Tammy Beaumont and Maia Bouchier walked out to warm applause as Beaumont began what was the final innings of her international career. The first ball of Kranti Gaud’s over, the opening delivery of the second over and Beaumont’s first ball of the innings, crashed into the stumps. Beaumont played too late and, across both innings, the way she batted and the manner of her dismissals suggested that perhaps the time had indeed come to hang up her boots. England then lost five more wickets to end the day on a hapless 130/6, still trailing by 327 runs.
Since the end of their first innings, England have looked completely out of sorts. They have struggled in every department. The emotional and physical demands of the T20 World Cup appear to have taken a clear toll. Physically they have been on the field, but mentally they seem elsewhere. India, on the other hand, have remained proactive, capitalised on England’s lack of intensity and now stand on the brink of a historic victory.
Amy Jones has been the only England batter to keep things simple. She has resisted the temptation to play extravagant strokes and has trusted her natural game throughout this innings. While her first-innings half-century came through counter-attacking cricket, this one has been built on patience and sound judgement, earning her back-to-back fifties.
India now require just four more wickets to complete a famous victory and earn themselves some much-needed rest. England, meanwhile, are perhaps craving that break even more, with The Hundred beginning in little over a week’s time.
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