By Bhupen Goswami

Guwahati :  India vs England, Live Score, 3rd T20I in Guwahati: England Snatch Victory From Jaws of Defeat, Take Series 3-0.

Batsman R B 4s 6s

SR Mithali Raj 30 32 4 0 93.75

Shikha Pandey 1 1 0 0 100

Bowlers O M R WKT WD NB ECON Natalie Sciver 4 0 27 0 3 0 6.75 Anya Shrubsole 4 0 24 1 1 0 6 I

ndian Women cricket team lost the third and last T20I by only run in Guwahati on Saturday to surrender the series 0-3 to England’s Women team. Earlier, winning the toss, England scored 119 runs for 6 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs at Assam Cricket Association’s (ACA) Barsapara Stadium. Later, chasing the small target, Indian team fell short by just 1 run despite skipper Smriti Mandhana’s 39-ball 58. Veteran player Mithali Raj remained unbeaten for 30 in 32 balls. This was India’s seventh straight loss in the T20I format.This looks like all but over for India as Anuja Patil too is stumped for 0. Two in two for Cross as India still needs three runs. Catch live score and updates through our live blog.

The India women’s cricket team will look to make amends for their below-par showing as they eye a consolation victory in the third and final T20 International against England at Guwahati on Saturday. After winning the ODI series 2-1, India’s batsmen put in a poor showing in the first two T20Is and handed England an unassailable 2-0 lead as a result. The hosts endured a 41-run defeat in the series-opener before losing the second game by five wickets. The defeat in the second T20 was India’s sixth in a row in the shortest format. India have been doing well in the 50-over format but they have plenty to ponder about with the T20 format with World Cup scheduled for early next year. India have now suffered two back-to-back series defeats. Before losing to England at home India had lost their previous series in New Zealand 0-3. In both games, whether chasing or batting first, India managed less than 120 runs, which is below-par against a top team like England. “I think our bowlers bowled well to limit England and keep the competition close, another 10-15 runs from our batters it could have been a different result. They did a really good job, they delivered from their side,” Mandhana said.

“But out batters need to step up give a good total for our bowlers to defend,” Mandhana added. Harmanpreet Kaur, the regular T20 captain, has not yet recovered from injury and stand-in skipper opener Smriti Mandhana failed to shine with the bat scoring 2 and 12 in the first and second T20 respectively. Put in to bat, the Indian team cut a sorry figure to be restricted to 111 for eight in 20 overs. India’s top-order comprising Harleen Deol (14), Mandhana (12) and Jemimah Rodrigues (2) failed to live up to the expectations. The middle order batters, led by veteran Mithali Raj (20), offered some resistance but were unable to capitalise on the starts. What hurt the Women in Blue most was the absence of power-hitting skipper Harmanpreet. With such a paltry target (112) to defend the Indian bowlers bowled tight but could not pick wickets. Ekta Bisht (2/23) was the top-wicket taker. Poonam Yadav (1/18) and Deepti Sharma were economical (1/18) but couldn’t keep the England batters at bay. Squads: India: Smriti Mandhana (c), Mithali Raj, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Taniya Bhatia (wicketkeeper), Bharti Fulmali, Anuja Patil, Shikha Pandey, Komal Zanzad, Arundhati Reddy, Poonam Yadav, Ekta Bisht, Radha Yadav, Veda Krishnamurty, Harleen Deol. England: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Sophia Dunkley Brown, Freya Davies, Georgia Elwiss, Amy Ellen Jones, Laura Marsh, Natalie Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Linsey Smith, Lauren Winfield, Danielle Wyatt, Alex Hartley.