ENG-W vs IND-W 2025, 1st ODI: Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana orchestrate impressive win for India in Southampton

India's tour of England keeps getting better and better as Harmanpreet Kaur won the first ODI at The Rose Bowl in Southampton by four wickets on Wednesday, July 16. After winning the five-match T20I series 3-2, the Women in Blue looked high on confidence in the 50-over encounter and they registered a memorable win to take an important lead in the three-match series.

Nat Sciver-Brunt won the toss and opted to bat first on Wednesday. However, Kranti Goud bowled brilliantly with the new ball and dismissed Amy Jones and Tammy Beaumont in her first two overs. At 20/2, England needed a partnership, and it came from Emma Lamb and skipper Sciver-Brunt. They added 71 runs off 87 balls. However, the two set batters were dismissed in quick succession by Sneh Rana.

Davidson Richards and Sophia Dunkley joined forces when the score was 97/4 and they added a 106-run partnership off 142 balls. After Richards was dismissed for a 73-ball 53, Sophie Ecclestone came out to the middle and joined Dunkley. They forged a 55-run stand off 37 balls, with Dunkley being dismissed off the final delivery of the innings. She scored 83 off 92 balls, belting nine boundaries. England finished on 258/6 in their 50 overs, which looked at least 20 runs short of the par score. Rana was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with figures of 2/31 in 10 overs.

In reply, Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal got India off to a solid start, adding 48 runs in eight overs. The Indian vice-captain was the first Indian batter to be dismissed as she departed after scoring 28 off 24 balls. Rawal (36), Harleen Deol (27), and Harmanpreet Kaur (17) got starts but couldn't convert them into substantial scores.

India were in a spot of bother at 124/4 in the 28th over. However, Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti Sharma forged a 90-run stand off just 86 deliveries. Jemimah was dismissed for a 54-ball 48 but Deepti continued keeping the scoreboard moving.

Richa Ghosh was dismissed for 10 but Amanjot Kaur remained not out on 20 off 14 balls along with Deepti, who finished on 62 after facing 64 deliveries. India romped home in 48.2 overs with four wickets in the bank.