MOUNT MAUNGANUI: English bowlers wreaked havoc over the Indian batting line-up before the skipper Heather Knight scored a brilliant fifty to power the side to a four-wicket victory over India in the 15th match of the ongoing ICC Women’s World Cup 2022.

Batting first, the Indian batting line-up failed as they could only manage to score 134 before being bowled out in the 37th over.

Indian left-handed opener Smriti Mandhana put on a fight with her gritty 35 off 58 balls, while the side was losing wickets at an alarming rate. She, however, was also dismissed in the 22nd over after scoring a valiant 35 off 58 balls with the help of four boundaries.

Following Mandhana’s departure, Richa Ghosh then put on a fight as she scored a gritty 33 off 56 balls, down the order but fell short after getting run out in the 34th over.

The rest of the batters could not make significant contributions and India, in the end, were bowled out for a paltry 134.

For England, Charlie Dean led the way; taking three wickets, while Anya Shrubsole
took two. Sophie Ecclestone and Kate Cross, on the other hand, made one scalp each.

Set to chase a mere 135, England also fumbled at the start as the former champions lost their first two wickets for just four runs.

Nat Sciver and Heather Knight then anchored the run chase with a valuable 65-runs partnership for the third wicket before the former made her way back in the 17th over.

Sciver scored 45 runs off 46 balls, with the help of eight boundaries. Following her departure, the side started to lose wickets at a regular interval but Heather remained firm and steered her side to the victory in the 32nd over.

Heather top-scored with an unbeaten 53 off 72 balls, laced with eight boundaries.

For India, Meghna Singh bagged three wickets, while Jhulan Goswami, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, and Pooja Vastrakar struck out a batter each.