India A wrap up series win on back of Punia and Tanisha

Opening stand sets it up:

Priya Punia and Tanisha Singh put on a century opening partnership to give India A a strong start. They laid the foundation for a big total.India A post 281: Powered by the opening stand, India A put 282 on the board. The openers’ work allowed the middle order to push the score past 280.England A fall short in chase: England A were bowled out well short of the target. India A’s bowlers wrapped it up to secure the win and the series with one game to spare.

India won the toss and ran up an imposing 281 for 7 in their 50 overs on a worn pitch, Punia top-scoring with 61 from 68 balls and Tanisha raising 58 from 72. Charley Phillips and Grace Scrivens took two wickets apiece for England, but useful contributions of 39 by Harleen Deol and 34 from Niki Prasad afforded the tourists the upper hand.

England struggled with the bat in the face of disciplined bowling, Charis Pavely making 62, Scrivens 46 and skipper Kira Chathli 39 as the home side were dismissed for 222 in 45.2 overs. The pick of the Indian bowlers, spinners Vaishnavi Sharma and Minnu Mani took 3 for 52 and 3 for 39 respectively.

With this win, India A took a 2-0 lead and sealed the series. Punia and Tanisha’s partnership was the key - it gave India A the platform they needed.

Representing England's last realistic hope, Scrivens was pinned lbw by Vaishnavi's slow left arm, departing for a 68-ball 46 with the score 84 for 4 at halfway. Chathli did her level best to force the issue thereafter, only to fall lbw to Mani as India pressed home their advantage.

When Vaishnavi found the outside edge and had Holland caught behind for 22 and then persuaded Sophia Smale to hit to long-on with the score 177 for 7 after 38 overs, the game was effectively up. Pavely went to 50 with a six off Kanwar, but it was too little too late for England.