Veteran Deepti Sharma was the star for the home side on Day 2 of the ongoing INDW vs ENGW Test. After stroking a handy fifty with the bat, Deepti Sharma spun the web around the English batters as she took a five-wicket haul at the Dr. DY Patil Stadium on Friday (December).
She picked up 5/7 from her 5.3 overs out of which 4 were maidens. Her victims included – Wyatt, Jones, Dean, Cross and Filer. Deepti Sharma was ably supported by Sneh Rana who finished with a couple of wickets for 25 runs in 6 overs. A wicket apiece for Renuka Singh Thakur and Pooja Vastrakar meant that India gained a lead of a massive 292 runs after the first innings.
“Like I have said earlier, I enjoy playing Test cricket. You have a lot of time to express yourself. The wicket was helping, it was slow and there was turn too. I was waiting for my turn to come in and take wickets. All wickets were good but Ecclestone’s and the one that hit Smriti on the helmet were special,” said Deepti Sharma.
The left-handed batter also talked about his innings as she scored a crucial 67 to help the home side cross the 400-run mark in the first innings. “Based on the preparations we had picked up a line to target and everyone bowled according to our plans. I have faced this situation before while batting, I was trying to play the swing lot and I did not find it that difficult to bat through,” she added.
After bundling out England, India decided not to enforce the follow-on and came out to bat again. At the end of Day 2, the home side has posted 186/6 with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur still in the middle for the home side. Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. have also gained a huge lead of 478 runs with two full days still left in the match.
