With the series finely poised at 1–1, the stage is set for a thrilling decider as England Women take on India Women in the final ODI at Riverside Ground, Durham. India drew first blood with a confident chase of 259 in the opening game, but England hit back in the second match, clinching victory via the Duckworth–Lewis method. As both teams gear up for the series finale, expect a fiercely contested encounter with everything on the line.
Pitch report
The Riverside pitch is a balanced batting track with consistent bounce and a hint of assistance for seamers early on. Recent ODIs here have seen successful totals around 220–260. Toss-winning captains might opt to bat first, aiming to exploit the true surface.
Weather report
Tomorrow (July 22) morning may see lingering showers, but the rest of the day looks mainly cloudy and dry, with highs around 20 °C.
England vs India squads
England: Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Em Arlott, Sophia Dunkley, Emma Lamb, Tasmin Beaumont, Amy Jones (wk), Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Alice Davidson-Richards, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell.
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana, 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
Top players
Sophie Ecclestone: The No. 1 ranked ODI bowler in the world continues to be a game-changer. Her tight lines and variations in pace were key in England’s win in the second ODI. If the pitch offers even a hint of turn, she could be the standout bowler once again.
Smriti Mandhana: India’s star opener has been in sublime form throughout the tour. Mandhana’s ability to anchor the innings and accelerate when needed makes her a vital asset at the top.
Amy Jones: A sharp wicketkeeper and aggressive middle-order batter, Jones has been England’s backbone in finishing innings. Her recent form—averaging over 90 in ODIs this season—makes her a serious threat in the death overs.
Deepti Sharma: A dependable all-rounder, Deepti contributes both with the bat and ball. Her economical off-spin and sharp field awareness can change the game in the middle overs. Expect her to play a key role in controlling England’s middle order.
England vs India head-to-head
The past five ODI meetings heavily favour India Women (4–1). On this Tour, both teams have had a win apiece, setting up a tight showdown.
Prediction
With form and recent dominance, India Women are narrowly tipped to edge this decider. But England’s batters (Beaumont, Jones, Dunkley) and seamers (Bell, Filer) make them formidable home contenders. Expect a tense finish, leaning slightly towards India to clinch the series 2–1.
