Harmanpreet Kaur’s 143 steers India Women to ODI series win over England

On Wednesday morning the ECB announced an ambitious 2023 Women’s Ashes fixture list, which includes maiden visits to Lord’s, The Oval and Edgbaston and a five-day Test at Trent Bridge. It’s a schedule designed to reflect the apparent global preeminence of England and Australia in women’s cricket: these two teams are the ones who are worth showing up for. By Wednesday evening, Harmanpreet Kaur had enjoyed ripping that assumption up into tiny shreds and placing it in a metaphorical wastepaper basket.

In a series-sealing performance at Canterbury, the India captain struck an unbeaten 143 from 111 balls, as India stacked up a total of 333 for 5 - the second highest against England in ODIs. Harmanpreet sealed the deal by running out local hero Tammy Beaumont in the second over of England’s chase with a direct hit from mid-on, as England stumbled to 47 for 3 in the powerplay - Renuka Singh Thakur, who finished with four for 57, picking up Sophia Dunkley and Emma Lamb cheaply.

Left requiring a record run-chase, England had inexplicably omitted Alice Davidson-Richards, their top-scorer from the first ODI at Hove. Though a half-century from Danni Wyatt at No 5 offered some resistance, Thakur returned in the 30th over and broke through her defences. Despite a valiant but futile 33-run partnership between Charlie Dean and Lauren Bell for the final wicket, England were all out for 245 in the 45th, falling to their first home series defeat to a side other than Australia since 2007.

England had looked to bolster their bowling by bringing in Bell to open, along with left-armer Freya Kemp, who received her ODI cap from Danni Wyatt before play began. But after warning signs during the first ODI at Hove, this was a second rudderless