England women lose one-day series despite fine Edwards knock

By Sam Dixon

An unbeaten half-century from Kent“s Charlotte Edwards (pictured) was all in vain as India wrapped up the series by defeating England women by five wickets in the fourth ODI in Visakhapatnam.

Her county team-mates, Lydia Greenway and Tammy Beaumont, also played as India took an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series with one to play.

On a surface where low scores have been prominent, skipper Edwards seemed to be the only player able to get to grips with a wicket that had plenty of bounce. England looked to be progressing at 73 for three with Edwards and Greenway at the crease but the latter was dismissed for four by Gouher Sultana. Beth Morgan came in and she and Edwards enjoyed fifth wicket stand of 37 before Morgan was caught and bowled by Preeti Dimri for 20 – the off-spinner finishing with impressive figures of three for 18. Edward battled through to an unbeaten 57, off 112 balls, but lacked support from the lower order; apart from a brisk 21 from Danielle Hazell as England reached a modest total of 152 for nine. Beaumont came in at number eleven but didn“t face a ball.

The Indian reply got off to a slow start and they lost the in-form Anjum Chopra for just two as Katherine Brunt trapped her leg before. However, Mithali Raj stood firm as India reached 74 for three at the half-way stage, with the number three reaching her fifty off 80 balls. Raj continued to keep the scoring above the required rate and, with the help of Sulakshana Naik (13) and Rumeli Dhar (13), they needed just 25 runs off the last ten overs with four wickets in-hand. The hosts comfortably completed their run chase, with 36 balls to spare, as Raj was left unbeaten on a fantastic 84. Laura Marsh was the pick of the England bowlers taking one for 25 off her allotted overs.

England now travel to Mumbai to play the final ODI on Monday before a series of three Twenty20 matches, starting next Thursday.

Picture: Getty Images