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Playing a red-ball game after seven years, the Indian Women‘s cricket team put up a scintillating performance to pull off a memorable draw against England Wౠomen in the one-off Test at County Ground in Bristol on Saturday (J𝓰une 19).
The home team declared their first innings on 396/9 before bundling out India for 231, taking a strong lead of 165 runs and enforced the follow-on. The experienced duo of Mithali Raj (4) and Harmanpreet Kaur (8) failed to impress with their single-digit scores. However, youngsters and debutants took the responsi🤡bility to register history.
Opener Shafali Verma showed positive signs at the top and continued from where she left in the first innings. She smashed 63 off 83 balls with 11 fours and a six. Deepti Sharma (54) and Punam Raut (39) also made valuabl🥂e contributions before the middle-order collapse.
India were struggling at 199/7 when Sneh Rana stood up for the occasion and did the impossible. She first formed a vital 41-run stand with pacer Shikha Pandey (18) and then formed a match-saving unbeaten partnership of 104 runs with wicketkeeper-batter Taniya Bhatia (44 no).
England used almost all their bowlers, but Sneh looked rock solid. She remained unbeaten knock of 80 runs off 154 deliveries when players from both teams 🍌decided to shake hands and agreed for a mutual draw with 12 overs of play remaining in the final session. India posted 334 runs for the loss of 8 wickets with a lead of 179.
Shafali, who scored 96 in the first innings and 63 in the second, was named ‘Player of the Match’.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Shafali Verma is a ⭐️. So excited to see her in the Hundred. For now though – love test cricket
— Isa Guha (@isaguha)
A story overcoming adversities with courage and determination.
Sneh Rana's father underwent various sacrifices to ensure she could practice, she lost her him days before selection in the test team , and today she has saved the test match for India. Hats off.— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad)
Said on early in this Test that we'll see layers in this Indian batting. With players from different eras in this side, we see different styles of batting. In this instance, they've all played their parts. Sabres and shields. Fantastic recovery. So happy for Sneh Rana.
— Snehal Pradhan (@SnehalPradhan)
A brilliant effort by the Indian girls to save th꧂e test match. Absolutely loved the resilience shown by Sneh Rana and earlier by Deepti Sharma. Shafali Verma certainly has a bright future ahead of her. Well done , this is one to remember for a long time.
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281)
The performance of the day came from Sneh Rana and it merely confirms my view that India will not be short on quality players in the women's game. It was a fantastic effort today and a shot in the arm for women's cricket.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)
Commendable✨ stuff to come from behind to draw this match. Top innings from Sneh Rana & Taniya Bhatia. Special mention to Shafali, Deepti & rest of the girls for pull🌠ing this off.
— Veda Krishnamurthy (@vedakmurthy08)
Just a few kms away from Southampton, the Indian women's team have done a fabulous job of pulling the rabbit out of the hat. Top drawer stuff.
Take a bow girls!— DK (@DineshKarthik)
Take a bow that was a phenomenal performance!! This draw is no less than a win. That partnership from Sneh Ranaꦕ and Taniya Bha🦋tia showed the character of this team. Well done👏��👏🏼
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14)
Sneh Rana ,take a bow.
Could be one of the great match-saving innings— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag)
Sneh Rana, Taniya Bhat💧ia inspire India to a steely dra♕w. Scorecard:
— betvisa69.com (@CricketTimesHQ)
Kudos to India’s𝄹 women’s team for grit and commitment in gaining honourable draw v Eng. At one stage after Shafali fell early and collapse ensued it looked a lost cause. Rana and Tanya Bhatia held their nerve, put on splendid 9th wkt century partnership and saved t🐓he day
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah)
That was some batting from ꩲSneh Rana & Taniya Bhatia who showed resilience to help 𒉰secure a draw🔝
Top-notch effort from 🇮🇳.👏🏻
Sneh Rana – 8️⃣0️⃣*
Taniya Bhatia – 4️⃣4️⃣*
Their partnership 🤝🏻 – 1️⃣0️⃣4️⃣*OUTSTANDING 👌🏻💪🏻
Scorecard 👉
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen)
We’ve seen something very special from Sneh Rana & Taniya Bhatia.
What a partnership 🙌— Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur)
Seriously heroic from and fantastic stuff. Another few minutes of resistance and they have saved a Test match. and Sneh pla🐻yers of the match 🐭for me.
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar)
