India Women Eye Series Win at Lord’s After Southampton Heroics
India Women will enter the second ODI at Lord’s with momentum on their side, having taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match series after a thrilling 4-wicket victory in the opener at Southampton. Chasing a competitive target of 259, India showed composure under pressure, with Deepti Sharma anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 62* and forging a crucial 90-run stand with Jemimah Rodrigues.
Earlier, England posted 258/6 on the back of Sophia Dunkley’s 83 and Alice Davidson-Richards’ 53, but India’s disciplined bowling, led by Sneh Rana and Kranti Goud, kept the hosts from accelerating. With a historic venue like Lord’s hosting the next clash, India will look to seal the series, while England will aim to bounce back in front of a home crowd.
Squads
India’s ODI Squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (WK), Yastika Bhatia (WK), Tejal Hasabnis, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Sree Charani, Shuchi Upadhyay, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare
England Women’s ODI Squad: Nat Sciver-Brunt (C), Em Arlott, Sophia Dunkley, Emma Lamb, Tammy Beaumont (WK), Amy Jones (WK), Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Alice Davidson-Richards, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell
Players to Watch
Sophia Dunkley:
Sophia once again proved to be the backbone of England’s middle order with a composed 83 off 92 deliveries in the first ODI. Her innings was laced with well-timed boundaries, anchoring the English innings during critical phases. Across 36 ODI innings, Dunkley has accumulated 938 runs with a career-best of 107, showcasing her ability to convert starts into big scores under pressure.
Charlie Dean:
England’s dependable off-spinner, Charlie Dean, continued her fine form in the first ODI with two crucial wickets that slowed India’s middle-order momentum. She had also impressed in the final T20I of the previous series, returning with figures of 3/23. Dean’s overall ODI record is impressive, with 74 wickets in 42 matches and a best of 5/31. Her versatility makes her a key asset in England’s spin attack.
Deepti Sharma:
India’s seasoned all-rounder delivered a match-winning performance in the series opener, scoring an unbeaten 62* off 64 balls to guide her team to victory. Deepti’s all-round brilliance is reflected in her career stats: 2362 runs in 92 innings, including a highest of 188, and 135 wickets with a best of 6/20.
Pratika Rawal:
Emerging as a dynamic top-order batter, Pratika played a composed knock of 36 from 51 balls in the first ODI. Alongside Smriti Mandhana, she reached a milestone of 1000 ODI partnership runs, underlining the duo’s chemistry at the crease. Despite having only 12 ODI innings to her name, Rawal has already amassed 674 runs, including a stunning top score of 154, showcasing her rapid rise as a dependable force in India’s batting unit.
Pitch Report
The Lord’s venue is known for its slope, which helps bowlers generate more lateral movement than usual. Scoring may be difficult early on, especially for batters facing the new ball. Seamers are likely to benefit in the initial overs, but as the game progresses, the pitch could even out and offer better batting conditions.
Weather Forecast
The weather at Lord’s, London, ahead of the second ODI remains uncertain with a moderate thunderstorm warning in place. Temperatures are expected to hover around 23°C, accompanied by high humidity at 74 percent. With precipitation chances at 60 percent, rain interruptions or delays could impact the flow of play. Both teams will keep a close eye on the skies, as conditions may influence pitch behavior and match strategy.
Fantasy Picks
Deepti Sharma, Sophia Dunkley, Richa Ghosh, Amy Jones, Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Tammy Beaumont, Charlie Dean, Sneh Rana, Kranti Gaud, Sophie Ecclestone
Match Details
Date: July 19, 2025
Time: 3:30 PM IST
Venue: Lord’s, London
Broadcast: Live-streamed on the FanCode app and website
