India’s Harmanpreet Kaur lifts the trophy as she celebrates with teammates the ODI series win over England in Chester-Le-Street on Tuesday night.
REUTERS
A double series win in England may have boosted the confidence of the Indian women’s team ahead of a home World Cup, but skipper Harmanpreet Kaur said her side will need to “start from ball one” when they return home to prepare for the global showpiece.
Harmanpreet led from the front with her seventh women’s ODI century as India defeated England by 13 runs in a high-scoring decider here on Tuesday to clinch the three-match series 2–1, following their 3–2 triumph in the WT20Is earlier.
India next faces seven-time reigning world champions Australia in a three-match WODI series at home beginning September 14, before co-hosting the Women’s World Cup with Sri Lanka from September 30 to November 2.
“Well, every game and every situation is different. Today was a totally different situation and different pitch, different atmosphere. But in home, conditions will be different,” Harmanpreet, who was adjudged both player of the match and player of the series, said at the post-match press conference here on Tuesday.
“But whenever you are playing the next game, it’s always you have to start from ball one and I think this series will definitely give us a lot of confidence. But again, when we go back, we have to start again things from the ball one.”
Asked what pleased her most from the England tour and what areas the team still needs to improve ahead of the World Cup, Harmanpreet replied: “Well, if you see our team is really working hard for so many years and this is the time where we are getting that reward.”
Harmanpreet’s century was her seventh in ODIs, and also her first score above fifty in the format in 13 innings.
India: 318/5 in 50 overs (Pratika Rawal 26, Smriti Mandhana 45, Harleen Deol 45, Harmanpreet Kaur 102, Jemimah Rodrigues 50, Richa Ghosh 38 not out)
beat
England: 305 all out in 49.5 overs (Emma Lamb 68, Nat Sciver-Brunt 98, Sophia Dunkley 34, Alice Davidson-Richards 44; Kranti Goud 6–52, Shree Charani 2–68).
Result: India won by 13 runs.
Series: India won the 3-match series 2–1.
Player of the Match & Series: Harmanpreet Kaur.