Ecclestone, Jones Shine as England Level ODI Series in Rain-Hit Thriller at Lord’s

England pulled off a composed, rain-affected eight-wicket win over India at Lord’s to square the three-match ODI series 1-1, thanks to a disciplined spin attack led by Sophie Ecclestone and a composed unbeaten knock from Amy Jones.

After rain delayed the start by four hours, reducing the match to 29 overs per side, England’s spin trio – Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, and Linsey Smith – exploited a tacky surface to restrict India to 143 for 8. Ecclestone starred with figures of 3 for 27, while Smith and Dean chipped in with two and one wicket respectively.

In response, Jones guided England to victory with a calm 46 not out as the hosts reached a revised target of 115 in 24 overs with 18 balls to spare, following another rain interruption late in the chase.

England’s Spin Web Restricts India

Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, England wasted no time applying pressure. Em Arlott struck early with a pinpoint yorker to remove Pratika Rawal for a duck. Spinners were introduced as early as the ninth over, and Ecclestone immediately made an impact, removing Harleen Deol with a return catch.

She followed up with a peach to bowl Harmanpreet Kaur for 7, continuing the India captain’s lean run on this tour. Kaur has managed just 89 runs across six innings with a top score of 26.

Dean removed Jemimah Rodrigues with a sharp caught-and-bowled before Ecclestone trapped Richa Ghosh lbw. India briefly steadied through Smriti Mandhana, who top-scored with 42 off 51 balls, and Deepti Sharma, who finished unbeaten on 30. But with no other batter passing 16, India’s total remained underwhelming.

Smith claimed the key wicket of Mandhana with a top-edged sweep, caught by Dean, and later trapped Arundhati Reddy lbw. Arlott wrapped up the innings by bowling Sneh Rana, finishing with two wickets.

Beaumont Sparks, Jones Steadies

England’s chase began briskly thanks to Tammy Beaumont, who smashed 18 off just eight balls in the first three overs. However, the innings took a tense turn when India appealed for obstructing the field after a throw from Rodrigues ricocheted off Beaumont’s pad. The review found no wrongdoing and Beaumont was declared not out.

Beaumont's momentum was halted in the 11th over when she missed a reverse sweep off Rana and was adjudged lbw after reviewing unsuccessfully.

Jones then took charge, putting together a steady partnership with Nat Sciver-Brunt worth 48 off 50 balls before another downpour interrupted play with England just eight balls short of the 20 overs required to constitute a match. Upon resumption, with the target adjusted to 115 from 24 overs, Goud bowled Sciver-Brunt immediately, but Jones and Sophia Dunkley (9*) calmly completed the chase.

High Stakes Ahead

The match, played under a cloud of past tensions from the controversial 2022 Deepti Sharma run-out at the same venue, had its share of heated moments. The obstructing-the-field appeal against Beaumont and a later appeal for a caught behind against Dunkley—despite stump-mic evidence to the contrary—added to the edge.

Jones acknowledged the atmosphere: “We tried not to get drawn into it... It’s part of the game.”

With the series level at 1-1, the final ODI in Durham on Tuesday promises a fiery finish to India’s tour, with both sides eyeing a series win and plenty of recent history fueling the contest.

Score Summary:
India 143/8 (Mandhana 42, Deepti 30*; Ecclestone 3-27)
England 116/2 in 21 overs (Jones 46*, Beaumont 34; Rana 1-23)
England won by 8 wickets (DLS method)

Series Level at 1-1