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.