Seamers, Mandhana star in India's series-clinching 7-wicket victory against England

Indian women's team defeated England by seven wickets in the second ODI to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series at Mumbai on Monday.

Pacers Shikha Pandey and Jhulan Goswami snapped four wickets each and Smriti Mandhana scored 63 as India Women registered another comprehensive 7-wicket win against England Women in the second ODI at Mumbai to seal the three-match series 2-0.

The series victory also gave India women two crucial points in the ICC Women’s Championship.

Chasing 161 for victory, India rode on Mandhana’s brilliance as she took all the pressure of India’s middle order despite losing opening partner Jemimah Rodrigues in the second over for only 1 on the board.

Mandhana stitched a 73-run stand for the second wicket with Poonam Raut, who scored 32 before getting stumped off Elwiss.

Mandhana continued on her way merry way putting on another crucial 66-run stand with captain Mithali Raj. Mandhana hit 7 fours and a six in her 74-ball stay in the middle.

She was trapped in front by Anya Shrubshole when India were 21 runs away from victory.

Raj remained unbeaten on 47 off 69 balls to take India home in 41.1 overs.  

Earlier, Shikha (4-18) and Jhulan (4-30) troubled the visitors with their fiery spells. The duo was well supported by spinner Poonam Yadav (2-28) as the visitors put a sub-par show after opting to bat.

This was Shikha's best performance in the 50-over format.

Only Natalie Sciver (85), who hammered 12 fours and a six, put up a fight for England and was the last woman to be dismissed.

Amy Jones (3) became Shikha's first victim. Sarah Taylor (1) too fell cheaply after she dragged onto her stumps off Jhulan, with the visitors teetering at 11/2. Jhulan also got the prized scalp of Heather Knight (2).

But then Sciver and opener Tamsin Beaumont (20) tried to steady the ship with their 30-run fourth wicket stand.

However, Deepti Sharma took a blinder to dismiss Tamsin off Shikha. After Tamsin mistimed the slog-sweep, Deepti ran towards the boundary from square-leg and took a diving catch leaving England reeling at 44-4.

Then Sciver and Lauren Winfield (28) played with ease to stitch a 49-run stand for the fifth wicket. But after all the hard-work, Winfield threw her wicket away.

Shikha, in her final over, struck twice, reducing England to 95/7. 

However, Sciver added 42 runs with Alex Hartley for the last wicket to ensure that the visitors crossed the 150-run mark.