Twitter Reactions: Poor strike-rate takes center stage as England comprehensively beat India in first ODI

Normal Business resumed for England as they thrashed India by eight wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. It was as clinical as it would get with Tammy Beaumont and Natalie Sciver leading the charge with an unbeaten 87 and 74 respectively. The target of 202 never bothered the duo as they put the Indian bowling attack to the sword by mixing caution with aggression.

It was the diminutive batter Beaumont who led the charge by attacking in the power play by hitting through the ground. She put Jhulan Goswami, Ekta Bisht, and Pooja Vastrakar off their lengths. When Bisht came into the attack, she used her feet well got to the pitch of the ball, and attacked from the word go. Although England lost Lauren Winfield-Hill and skipper Heather Knight, Beaumont was unperturbed.

She got good support from vice-captain Sciver, who ensured to put pressure constantly on the Indian bowlers. Sciver was not afraid to dominate in an unbroken 119 run-stand with Beaumont and ensured the match was completed in 34.5 overs, thereby ensuring a memorable 100th win for England at home.

Bowlers set it for England batters

That India’s batters could only manage 202 was down to some disciplined bowling from Katherine Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Anya Shrubsole, and Kate Cross who shared eight wickets between them. Number one ranked T20I bowler Ecclestone was again miserly and was a wrecker in chief by picking three wickets and didn’t give an inch to India’s batters.

All eyes were explosive batter Shafali Verma, but she could manage only 15. India at one stage was 88 for four and they needed someone to step up. Ever so reliable Mithali stepped up and celebrated her 22 years in cricket with a gritty 71. She took her time and initially was slow to begin with. But once she got set, she looked to cash in on lose balls and enabled India to get past 200 eventually.

Team India’s poor strike rate with the willow was the main talking point on social media with Indian batters playing 181 dot balls in the first innings. Both teams will next square off in the second ODI on 30th June.

Here’s how Twitter reacted to India’s defeat

Shafali is 17 years old, not 28 🤦🏻‍♀️#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/V826FOXafR

— NIK #JustAFan (@nikhikalpita) June 27, 2021

There were 181 dot balls in 50 overs of Indian innings and England finished the match in just 199 balls as they chase down 202 runs from 34.5 overs & take 1-0 lead in three match ODI series. #ENGvIND

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 27, 2021

Shafali Verma (jersey no. 17) and Smriti Mandhana (jersey no. 18) are the FIRST ever opening pair (men/women) to have consecutive numbers on their backs in all 3 formats of international cricket.#ENGvIND

— Rhitankar Bandyopadhyay (@rhitankar8616) June 27, 2021

Amy Jones is so good and so smooth that she makes difficult catches look like they’re nothing (and possibly does herself out of some credit in the process). The way the gloves moved up to react to the top edge – brilliant.#ENGvIND🏏🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇮🇳

— Nakul Pande (@NakulMPande) June 27, 2021

I agree that you can't have two players at no 3 & 4 playing a certain way. Going ahead, India will need to choose between one of Punam Raut or Mithali Raj. But someone still needs to get runs on the board. No one else did! And we are criticising the one who did.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 27, 2021

Youngest to represent India in all three formats:

Shafali Verma – 17 Years 150 days
Smriti Mandhana – 18 Years 26 Days
Ishant Sharma – 19 Years 152 days#Cricket #CricTracker #ENGWvINDW

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) June 27, 2021

India's innings featured 181 dot balls (30.1 overs).

Just. Gah. #ENGvIND | #ENGWvINDW

— Lavanya L Narayanan (@lav_narayanan) June 27, 2021

Middle-order (3-6) batting Strike-rate of the top five teams in ICC Women's ODI rankings since 2017 WC:

85.85 – Australia
84.60 – England
75.19 – New Zealand
72.40 – South Africa
64.55 – India #ENGvIND | #ENGWvINDW

— Stat Doctor🩺 (@stat_doctor) June 27, 2021

Rotating the strike is a big issue in India’s batting lineup. The strike rate in middle-overs is pretty low. They have to earn the powerplay for it. At least one player has to look for boundaries. If it continues like this, we cannot reach 280-300 in ODIs. #INDWvsENGW

— CHARLIE (@CharlieGulshan) June 27, 2021