IND-W vs ENG-W 3rd ODI Mumbai — Richa Ghosh's 12-Ball 35 to Seal the Series

Richa Ghosh has been India Women's power-hitting keeper-bat for three seasons. She bats at six, takes the gloves, and has a career T20I strike rate of 142 — the highest among Indian women's cricketers. The 3rd ODI at Wankhede on May 20 was the chance to add the ODI finish to her resume. She walked in at 184 for 4 in the 41st over, needing 35 to win in 53 balls. She hit five sixes in 12 balls and finished the chase in the 44th over with eight balls to spare. India Women win the ODI series 3-0 and the home dressing room walks out of the Wankhede with the kind of clean sweep that the 2027 World Cup cycle needed.

Phase one: the chase setup

England Women had posted 217 for 9 in 50 overs at the Wankhede. Maia Bouchier made 51 off 56, Heather Knight 48 off 71, and Sophie Dunkley 28 off 32. The Indian bowling unit kept the lid on — Deepti Sharma 2/38 in 10, Radha Yadav 2/34 in 9, Pooja Vastrakar 2/41 in 9. The total of 218 was below par for the venue but the surface was sticky in the afternoon.

India Women started the chase steadily through Smriti Mandhana (38) and Shafali Verma (28). The third-wicket partnership between Harmanpreet Kaur (47) and Jemimah Rodrigues (32) added 67 in 11 overs. India were 167 for 4 in the 36th over with the asking rate at 4.0.

Then the slow patch came. Harmanpreet was caught at long-on trying to break out off Sophie Ecclestone for 47. Jemimah was lbw to Charlie Dean for 32 two overs later. India were 184 for 4 in the 40th over and the asking rate had climbed to 3.7. The match was close but the experienced England bowling had pulled it back.

What the numbers say

Richa Ghosh's 35 broke down in 12 balls. Ball 1 (over 41, off Ecclestone): single. Ball 2 (over 41, off Ecclestone): six over long-on. Ball 3 (over 41, off Ecclestone): four through extra cover. Ball 4 (over 41, off Ecclestone): six over deep midwicket. Ball 5 (over 42, off Dean): six over wide long-on. Ball 6 (over 42, off Dean): two through midwicket. Ball 7 (over 42, off Dean): six over long-off. Ball 8 (over 43, off Lauren Bell): single. Ball 9 (over 43, off Bell): four through cover. Ball 10 (over 44, off Filer): single. Ball 11 (over 44, off Filer): six over square leg. Ball 12 (over 44, off Filer): single (won match).

The strike rate of 291 was the highest fifty-or-less innings by any India Women player in ODIs in 2026. The boundary count of 5 sixes plus 2 fours from 12 balls is a record for any India Women lower-middle-order batter in ODIs.

The Ecclestone over decoded

The 41st over of the chase was bowled by Sophie Ecclestone. India needed 33 to win with 53 balls to play. Richa was on 0 not out. Ecclestone's first ball was the stock left-arm spinner at off-stump — Richa took a single. The second was the arm-ball at off-stump — Richa slog-swept for six over long-on. The third was the slow flighted left-arm spinner — Richa stepped out and drove through extra cover for four. The fourth was the stock spinner shorter — Richa pulled for six over deep midwicket.

The over went for 17. The asking rate dropped from 5.0 to 3.0 in one over. Ecclestone's economy in the match climbed from 4.2 to 4.7. The matchup data showed Richa with 16 off 4 balls against Ecclestone in the over, a strike rate of 400.

The field-setting that gave way

The Heather Knight field-setting at the start of the 41st over had been the standard 5-4 split — five fielders inside the ring, four on the boundary. Ecclestone's first ball forced Richa to find the gap. Ecclestone's second ball went over the top, beating the long-on. The third ball found cover. The fourth ball went over deep midwicket.

Knight's adjustment came too late. By the time she had pushed long-on deeper and brought short midwicket up, Richa had moved to 17 not out. The field-setting through the rest of the chase had only deep cover, deep midwicket, and long-on as the boundary riders — the rest of the field was protecting against the singles. The boundary count from there was 4 more in 8 balls.

What it means for the series

India Women win the ODI series 3-0. The home advantage in the spin-friendly venues was the consistent theme. Smriti Mandhana's hundred in the 1st ODI, Deepti Sharma's six-for in the 2nd, and Richa Ghosh's finish in the 3rd — three different players, three different moments.

For England the read is that the spin-attack plan didn't crack the home batting. Heather Knight's captaincy will face review after a 3-0 away series loss. Sophie Ecclestone and Charlie Dean were the spin twins meant to control the middle overs and they conceded above five an over in all three matches.

The forward view

The next India Women ODI series is in September against Australia at home. Three ODIs at Vizag, Cuttack, and Eden Gardens. The squad will need a third opener option — Yastika Bhatia has been pushing for a place.

Richa Ghosh's finishing role is now locked in. The 22-year-old has averaged 38 in ODIs in 2026 at strike rate 122. The Wankhede match confirmed her as India Women's death-overs option.

What to watch next: the September home ODI series against Australia — India Women's test of the 3-0 sweep template.

Related coverage

• the 2026-27 international calendar
• WTC Final cycle