India send Goswami off with a historic 3-0 series triumph

The winning farewell that India were hoping to give Jhulan Goswami was under threat when the visitors were bowled out for 169 despite half-centuries from Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma. But the bowlers, led by Renuka Thakur (4-29), powered India's comeback as they clinched a 16-run victory in a low-scoring thriller at the Lord's on Saturday (September 24) to seal a 3-0 series victory.

In an astonishing finish, Charlotte Dean, who fought hard with a 80-ball 47, backed up too far at the non-striker's end and Deepti removed the bails to leave the batter in tears and those watching in shock.

Goswami herself contributed with 2-30, finishing her ODI career with 255 wickets to go with 44 wickets in Tests and 56 in T20Is, as India bowled England out for 153 to ensure the legendary pacer, who pulled down the curtains on an illustrious 20-year career, rode into the sunset on a victorious note.

Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, who was in tears before the start of the game, came out for the toss with Goswami who called the coin spin, which went in favour of England's captain Amy Jones. Jones' decision to bowl first was validated by her pacers, especially Kate Cross, who bagged the first three wickets to leave India in early trouble. Shafali Varma's struggle against Cross in this series continued as she was dismissed by the pacer for the third time in as many games, this time bowled through the gate without opening her account. Yastika Bhatia was also bowled by Cross for a duck while Harmanpreet was dismissed for the first time in this ODI series, trapped leg-before. With Harleen Deol out lbw to Freya Davies, India slipped to 29/4 inside 10 overs.

A half-century partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma helped India's recovery but it was cut short when the former was bowled by Cross soon after reaching fifty. A 40-run association for the seventh wicket between Deepti and Pooja Vastrakar was the next best partnership but once that came to an end, Freya Kemp cleaned up the tail. One of the two wickets that Kemp bagged was that of Goswami, who was given a guard of honour before being bowled off the first ball she faced. India's innings ended with 4.2 overs still remaining, with Deepti stranded on 68.

Goswami, who received another guard of honour when India took the field for the second innings, started with a maiden and kept things tight despite Emma Lamb scoring a few boundaries. Thakur too was economical at the other end and also accounted for Lamb thanks to Bhatia's excellent glovework that led to a stumping. Tammy Beaumont, playing her 100th ODI for England, had a sedate start scoring only 4 runs off her first 17 deliveries before putting away a loose delivery from Goswami for a boundary. India lost a review when Thakur convinced her captain that she had trapped Beaumont in front, only for the replays to reveal that the impact was well outside off. But she struck in the very next delivery as Beaumont was bowled playing down the wrong line.

Given an extended six-over spell, Goswami struck at the very end of it as Alice Capsey struck a short delivery straight to Harleen at cover-point. Renuka, who bowled seven overs in her first spell, bagged her third wicket in her sixth over with a swinging delivery that Sophia Dunkley had no answers to. India finally introduced spin in the form of Rajeshwari Gayakwad who had Danielle Wyatt bowled with an excellent delivery after being hit for two fours. Gayakwad had Goswami to thank for her second wicket as the veteran took a sharp catch at slip to dismiss Sophie Ecclestone, reducing England to 53/6 in the 15th over.

With the left-handed Freya Kemp at the crease, Deepti was brought into the attack and she had the batter caught at backward point by Harleen as England's procession of wickets continued. England captain Jones then forged a useful alliance with Charlotte Dean to stem the rot and give India some tense moments as they added 38 for the eighth wicket. India used the spinners, including Dayalan Hemalatha, for a few overs without any luck before Thakur was reintroduced. India's most successful bowler in this game produced the much-needed breakthrough as Jones failed to keep a pull down and saw Harleen put in a dive at deep midwicket to take the catch.

Dean and Cross kept India at bay for more than five overs before Goswami bagged a wicket in her final over by having Cross bowled. As she completed the final over of her career, her team-mates embraced her while she also received a standing ovation. It would have been a fitting end had Goswami held on to a regulation catch when Dean got an edge off Deepti. India had some tense moments after that as Dean and No. 11 Davies combined for a 35-run partnership to get England within touching distance of the target. But the game ended in disappointment for the hosts as Deepti found that Dean had sneaked out of the crease and brought the bails down.

Brief scores: India 169 in 45.4 overs (Deepti Sharma 68*, Smriti Mandhana 50; Kate Cross 4-26) beat England 153 in 43.4 overs (Charlotte Dean 47, Amy Jones 28; Renuka Singh 4.29, Jhulan Goswami 2-30) by 16 runs.