England v India day three: Verma shines in gloom after England enforce follow-on
Rain brought about an early finish after the India opener’s second half-century of the Test.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Rain which had been forecast since the beginning of England Women’s one-off Test brought an early end to play on the third day with India 83 for one.
The day’s play was abandoned just before 5.30pm with no play possible since the tea break.
England claimed five early wickets before Heather Knight enforced the follow-on, with India closing 82 runs behind England’s first-innings total of 396.
Verma shows her class
Shafali Verma showcased her quality with the bat for the second time in the match, bringing up another half-century at the Bristol County Ground.
The 17-year-old again looked comfortable at the crease despite the rain and overcast conditions for the England seam bowlers, striking the ball cleanly during her 55 which included 11 fours from 68 balls.
Though the format was different, the world’s number one Twenty20 batter had an interesting contest against her counterpart in the bowling ranks, Sophie Ecclestone.
Rain affects play
England managed to enforce the follow-on before the first delay to the game, and even claim their first wicket of the second innings before the weather had its say.
Despite a brief period after lunch when the players were allowed to return to the field, the game was called off shortly before 5.30 with 108 overs scheduled for the final day.
Ecclestone makes early inroads
Ecclestone claimed the first three wickets to fall on Friday morning, finishing with four for 88 as India, who had been 167 without loss at one stage on day two, were dismissed before lunch at the Bristol County Ground.
The first two were both lbw, including a player review, as India slumped to 187 for seven without having added to their overnight total.
Heather Knight had taken two for one from six overs the night before but it was the higher-rated spinner who did the damage inside the opening 40 minutes this morning to send back Harmanpreet Kaur, Taniya Bhatia and Sneh Rana to finish with figures of four for 88.
England also struck immediately with the new ball, Katherine Brunt claiming the wicket of Pooja Vastrakar for 12 with a good delivery that just clipped the bails, before Anya Shrubsole then took the final wicket of the innings.