India 42/0 after 8 overs (Verma 15, Mandhana 25): Commentator just says “SHOT!” as the ball leaves Mandhana’s bat after a cover drive. That’s all that needs to be said. Finishes the over with a cut behind point. Two fours in that Shrubsole over.

India 34/0 after 7 overs (Verma 15, Mandhana 17): And the battle continues. Bouncer from Brunt, Shafali awkwardly ducks underneath that but length ball later in the over and the Indian slams it down the ground for four.

India 25/0 after 5 overs (Verma 8, Mandhana 15): THREE FOURS IN AN OVER! Smriti Mandhana is up and running and she is the critical part of a run-chase for India. Her form has been terrific while batting second (stats coming up shortly). A well-placed pick-up shot, then a lovely square drive. The third one is a bit streaky. There was a mandatory Brunt fall-on-followthrough in that over.

India 12/0 after 4 overs (Verma 7, Mandhana 3): India not taking any chances early on.

India 8/0 after 3 overs (Verma 6, Mandhana 2): Brunt with another testing over to Shafali. No short stuff yet, perhaps playing hide-and-seek with the youngster. It’s like a boxing bout at the moment, says the commentator. A chess game too, would be an apt description.

Zenia D’Cunha: The bowling has done its bit and time for India’s first chase of this series Shafali Verma will be all the more crucial today, even though the target is just 220.

India 7/0 after 2 overs (Verma 6, Mandhana 1): A lofted shot over cover by Shafali off Shrubsole. Nothing streaky about that. Good timing and placement. First four of the innings.

India 1/0 after 1 over (Verma 1, Mandhana 0): A fascinating first over from Brunt to Verma! The battle begins again. Terrific away swingers that beat Shafali’s bat, perhaps expecting the short ball early. Footwork is not her strength but she has shown better technique on this tour than she did in that over. Ends with a streaky single.

Target for India: 220 (47 overs)

Shafali Verma, chasing in an ODI for the first time, and Smriti Mandhana are in the middle. Will England be able to defend the total or will India finish the ODIs with a win?

Innings break: Here’s a look at the Mandhana catch that wasn’t just spectacular but potentially game-changing.

England 219 all out in 47 overs: A superb last over for England even if it ends with a wicket for India and the hosts getting bowled out. Glenn came back for a second (as should all batters across the game off the last ball) and is run out. Deepti finishes with 47/3 in her 10 overs, 13* (corrected) coming off the last over.

FOUR-SIX! There’s that batting depth. England’s No 11 providing them a strong finish. Kate Cross with two superb hits down the ground, the six however the result of Shafali Verma moving forward a bit too much. Goes over head.

England 206/9 after 46 overs: Sarah Glenn is a handy batter and she finishes the penultimate over with a superbly lofted four over cover for four. England’s batting depth is impressive. Goswami finishes with 1/31 in 9 overs.

WICKET! Deepti Sharma’s over results in two wickets.! This one at the non-striker’s as she gets her hand on a shot back down the ground. Glenn the striker, Shrubsole the non-striker who is out for 1. England 197/9.

WICKET! India have finally managed to dismiss Sophia Dunkley on this tour after her impressive batting in the Test and 2nd ODI. Deepti Sharma has her third week. Bowled around the pads as she was trying to work one down the leg side. 196/8.

Breaking news: India have dismissed Sophia Dunkley!

Over 43.5: WICKET! Goswami and her accuracy. On point! Full length delivery, Ecclestone misses it and it seems fairly plumb. Review shows umpire’s call. India keep chipping away. 192/7 after 44 overs.

Over 43.4: HAVE INDIA MANAGED TO GET DUNKLEY OUT? Er, no. A direct hit from Mithali Raj but Dunkley has made it in on time. False excitement.

After 43 overs, England 190/6: Ecclestone ends the boundary drought! Powerful ball-striking by her. Picks up the pace and length off Poonam quickly, swept brilliantly.

After 42 overs, England 182/6

The commentators tell us the last boundary came in the 27th over! That’s impressive from control from Indian bowlers, it must be said. The pressure has brought a couple of wickets on too. (The singles and twos were on offer but they have kept England in check).

Over 40.6: WICKET! If ever there was a typical Poonam Yadav dismissal. She draws Brunt out, it’s the wrong ‘un and Taniya Bhatia makes no mistake. The unbroken partnership from last match is broken. England 177/6 after 41 overs. Six overs to go in the innings.

WICKET! WHAT A CATCH! BRILLIANT FROM SMRITI MANDHANA! The Indian opener has been great on the field today and she takes a superb catch to dismiss the dangerous Nat Sciver on 49. Runs a few yards to her left, puts in the dive and it is a catch to remember on a day when her fielding has been so good. Deepti Sharma with the wicket. 163/5 (37.3 ov)

After 37 overs, England 162/4 (Sciver 49, Dunkley 9)

India are yet to dismiss Sophia Dunkley, by the way! Will today be the day? (One T20I innings, one Test innings and the second ODI innings currently underway, so it’s a small sample space.) But to her credit, she has been so solid against the visitors in the past couple of weeks. We are now into the last 10 overs of the innings.

Over 33.6: WICKET! Just when it seemed like the match was drifting away from India again, Amy Jones falls. Caught at long on, Deepti Sharma with the breakthrough. Radha Yadav takes the catch (substitute for Harman, we think).

After 33 overs, England 146/3 (Sciver 43, Jones 16)

Kinda like in Taunton, England are just cruising through these overs. Not much pressure on the batters. Not for the lack of trying in terms of bowling changes as Deepti and Pandey and come back into the attack but the pressure is simply not building enough.

After 31 overs, England 140/3 (Sciver 40, Jones 13)

Six singles from Poonam’s over, and time for a drink.

After 30 overs, England 134/3 (Sciver 37, Jones 11)

England taking no chances against Goswami. The pacer’s figures read: 7-0-20-0 now.

After 29 overs, England 131/3 (Sciver 36, Jones 8)

Sciver continues to go at a strike rate of 100-plus. Has raced to 36 off 35 balls on a tricky surface to bat. India bring Goswami back, sensing the need to breakthrough here.

After 27 overs, England 125/3 (Sciver 33, Jones 5)

Expensive Harman over. A four each for the two batters.

A question worth asking: At what do we consider Nat Sciver as the premier allrounder of the game currently over Ellyse Perry? Has she already gotten there? Bats at No 4 like she owns that spot, always threatening with the ball. Terrific on the field too.

After 26 overs, England 115/3 (Sciver 28, Jones 0)

More delightful batting by Sciver. Drives through mid-off region for four off Rana, for another shot-of-the-day contender. She has played a few of those already.

Over 24.5: WICKET! Another well-set batter doesn’t quite convert a good start. Another England batter finds the fielder at deep midwicket. Captain Knight falls for 46, this time Harmanpreet with the wicket. A good little phase for India! Must be said, two soft dismissals for two England batters who looked to be going really well.

After 24 overs, England 105/2 (Knight 46, Sciver 18)

Knight brings up the 100 in the 23rd over with a delightful four past point.

Harman comes on to bowl...

After 22 overs, England 94/2 (Knight 37, Sciver 16)

Sciver plays one of the shots of the day with a drive down the ground to welcome Pandey back.

Was that a chance? Bhatia has been so good behind the stumps but that’s going down as a dropped catch. Rana appeals for a catch and there is disappointment as the ball pops out! Tough tough take down the leg side but missed chance alright. Next ball, Knight reaches 3000 ODI runs.

Shikha Pandey comes back...

After 20 overs, England 81/2 (Knight 31, Sciver 9)

Poonam Yadav seems to be slowing it up even further, than how she started. Might be the way to go on this pitch and pace variation is something she has spoken about recently. Sciver, the new batter, has started off like she has been batting in nets all morning. Another very even phase of 10 overs.

WICKET! Sneh Rana breaks the partnership! It’s another really good start not converted by Winfield Hill, who finds Goswami at deep midwicket. Seemed like a plan that was discussed by the captain and the bowler. The previous ball Knight tried that shot and it fell just short of the fielder, but LWH timed it a bit better than her captain and fell. India needed that. ENG 69/2 (17)

After 16 overs, England 67/1 (Winfield-Hill 36, Knight 26)

Captain Knight brings out the reverse sweep against Deepti and it is mighty effective. Races to the boundary.

After 15 overs, England 61/1 (Winfield-Hill 35, Knight 21)

England are keeping the scoreboard ticking. LWH is reading Poonam really well off the pitch it must be said. The Indian leggie went for runs in the previous match but picked up two wickets. She hasn’t come close yet today. Time for a drinks break.

After losing the in-form Beaumont for a duck, England have recovered quite nicely. A few half chances here and there for India but Winfield-Hill and captain Knight have added 50-plus since. ENG: 56/1 (14)

After 13 overs, England 52/1 (Winfield-Hill 29, Knight 18)

Another outside edge induced by Deepti and a diving Sneh Rana can’t quite stop it at first slip. More good energy on the field from Indian though. 50 comes up in the 13th over as the partnership looks like getting ready for a long haul.

After 11 overs, England 45/1 (Winfield-Hill 24, Knight 16)

Given the early indications of a slow, low pitch. This phase with Deepti and Poonam could be crucial for India. Another fantastic stop by Smriti Mandhana in that over, saving a certain boundary.

After 10 overs, England 42/1 (Winfield-Hill 22, Knight 15)

Partnership is into the 40s. Deepti starts off with a loopy off spinner, that draws the outside edge but Knight’s lucky that it goes wide of the slip. An even powerplay that, but England would be happier at the moment one thinks.

After 9 overs, England 40/1 (Winfield-Hill 22, Knight 13)

A boundary for Heather Knight, brilliantly flicked through square leg. England have wrestled back the momentum after a good start for India. Deepti Sharma, as she usually does, comes on to bowl the 10th over.

After 8 overs, England 35/1 (Winfield-Hill 22, Knight 8)

This is what England do so well! They are aware of when the pressure is building and always a release over or two up their arsenal. LWG with three terrific shots for three fours in Pandey’s over. Not bad balls mind you, two drives through the off and one down the ground.

After 7 overs, England 23/1 (Winfield-Hill 10, Knight 8)

Three runs in Pandey’s over, two in Goswami’s. More superb ground fielding in this phase by India. They are not giving easy runs.

By the way, regarding the fielding changes for free hit this is the official ruling:

Neither field changes nor the exchange of individuals between fielding positions are permitted for free hit deliveries unless: 

21.19.3.1 There is a change of striker (the provisions of clause 41.2 shall apply), or 

21.19.3.2 The No Ball was the result of a fielding restriction breach, in which case the field may be changed to the extent of correcting the breach.  

After 5 overs, England 18/1 (Winfield-Hill 9, Knight 6)

Tidy over from Goswami, just a double down the fine leg region.

After 4 overs, England 16/1 (Winfield-Hill 9, Knight 4)

Pandey spoke about how good Taniya Bhatia is while standing up to the stumps and that was more sensational wicket-keeping from her in that over, almost pulled off a ridiculous stumping down the leg side while standing up to a pacer. Not only gathered the ball, but flicked it on to the stumps as well. LWH was back into the crease though. LWH also scored a lovely boundary inside out.

After 3 overs, England 11/1 (Winfield-Hill 0, Knight 4)

A boundary for LWH, who has looked in great touch for most of India’s ongoing tour. Pushed through mid-on region. It seemed like a no ball was given but for some reason Bhatia was allowed to come up to the stumps. No damage done from the Indian point of view.

After 2 overs, England 5/1 (Winfield-Hill 0, Knight 4)

Not the best of follow up deliveries from Pandey after the wicket. Short and wide, Knight puts it away for four.

Over 1.4: WICKET! Shikha Pandey strikes in her first over and it’s the big wicket of Tammy Beaumont! Short of length, but the ball doesn’t rise much. Trapped in front. she doesn’t bother reviewing. More indications of a slow-low pitch. England 1/1.

After 1 over, England 1/0 (Beaumont 0, Winfield-Hill 0)

After a wide to start, tidy as ever by Goswami. Terrific field by Mandhana at point off the last ball to save a boundary. Sets a good tone. The pitch could be slower than the ones from the first two ODIs, the commentators tell us. It does have a very Indian feel to it.

The body language on the field was one of the big improvements in Taunton. Will we see more of that today? Both teams unchanged, 47 overs per side. India will be bowling first in Worcester. Hopefully a closer game today than the first two. Two points at stake. Jhulan Goswami to start...

TEAM NEWS:

India: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Mithali Raj, Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Taniya Bhatia, Shikha Pandey, Jhulan Goswami, Poonam Yadav

England: Tammy Beaumont, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Heather Knight, Nat Sciver, Amy Jones, Sophia Dunkley, Katherine Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Anya Shrubsole, Sarah Glenn, Kate Cross

Confirmation of team news awaited, but looks like both teams unchanged.

TOSS: First things first, Mithali Raj (as expected) has recovered from her neck issues, and she is leading India today. She has won the toss and opted to bowl first in Worcester.

Play

22-year-old Sophie Ecclestone today becomes a 5-year *veteran* in international cricket.

4.03 pm: Good news from Worcester.

3.50 pm: A delay in Worcester is the perfect time for you to read this feature by Zenia D’Cunha

Pathways for improving women’s cricket in India: Gender sensitisation, states to do more, an IPL and the collective will to make a difference

3.40 pm: As we wait for further updates, Shikha Pandey (insightful as she usually is) spoke to the media on Friday ahead of the third match. You can read more about it here.

3.30 pm: As mentioned earlier, there is an inspection scheduled for 3.45 pm.

3:00 PM: The start of the match is most likely to be delayed given, you guessed it, rain in England. The pitch is covered as of now.

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the third One Day International between India and England to be played Worcester. Mithali Raj and Co have already lost the ODI series, going down in the first two matches. But this is not a dead rubber, they can still salvage the multi-format series, after a drawn Test and T20Is up next. More importantly, the final ODI is another chance for the 2017 runners-up to try out team combinations as part of the preparations for next year’s World Cup against Heather Knight’s world champions.

First ODI recap here.

Second ODI recap here.