England v India: women’s Test match, day two – live! - The Guardian

6.55 am EDT06:55 103rd over: England 304-7 (Dunkley 32, Ecclestone 14) Apart from during that first over from Rana, Dunkley has looked in pretty decent control, and she gets down on one knee to flip Sharma over her shoulder for two that's very nicely done. A single to square leg follows, while in commentary, Ebony Rainford-Brent reckons we need a shot clock to make sure we get out overs. Anyway, Ecclestone then imparts a leading edge to one given some air and finds it as amusing as the bowlers find it unamusing. 6.50 am EDT06:50 103rd over: England 301-7 (Dunkley 29, Ecclestone 14) The batters share a laugh and a safe between overs they're enjoying this, and why wouldn't they they they be? After three dots, Ecclestone forces one to mid-on which brings up Englands 300 I imagine Heather Knight will be pleased by how quickly they've got there, and for the loss of just one wicket. Dunkley then takes a single of her own, and India is struggling to sustain pressure. 6.45 am EDT06:45 102nd over: England 299-7 (Dunkley 28, Ecclestone 13) I wonder how long England will stay out there before they start whacking they'll fancy bowling in these conditions and know they need to take 20 wickets. Meantime, though, they're just batting, and Dunkley flicks a single past short leg then, after four dots, Ecclestone forces one more down to long-on. 6.41 am EDT06:41 101st over: England 297-7 (Dunkley 27, Ecclestone 12) Ecclestone looks really confident out there and she steps away nicely to send Ranas first delivery to the cover fence; they run two, the only ones from the over. 6.39 am EDT06:39 100th over England 295-7 (Dunkley 27, Ecclestone 10) Can Sharma maintain pressure? Ecclestone plays her first three balls pretty well, taking one to midwicket with the help of a misfield, then Dunkley whacks hard ... but straight to Sharma ... and she spills it! We don't have a good camera on exactly what happened, but though it was a handwringer, there's no excuse for not taking that. I daresay she'll not be talking to herself for the next bit. 6.35 am EDT06:35 6.31 am EDT06:31 98th over England 292-7 (Dunkley 25, Ecclestone 9) Its spin from both ends now, with Sharma replacing Goswami, and that makes sense. Though conditions are helpful for the quicks, it was the spinners who did the damage and a hard, shiny ball won't do them any harm. Anyhow, Sharma opts for two short legs and watches Ecclestone add to extra, then she sends one of them to the silly point and can't quite reach the leading edge imparted to her final delivery. 6.26 am EDT06:26 97th over England 290-7 (Dunkley 25, Ecclestone 7) Change of bowling, Rana coming on for Pandey who not been quite at it this morning. With a silly point and a short leg, her first delivery loops and turns nicely, before Dunkley turns down to fine leg for a brace before sweeping to deep square for one. Ecclestone then takes one of her own to mid-off and this is intense stuff. 6.21 am EDT06:21 96th over: England 286-7 (Dunkley 22, Ecclestone 6) I wonder if Dunkley will try and build an innings while Ecclestone looks to whack it ... yeah, maybe not. She looks to drive Goswami down the ground but picks out mid-off, then when one angles into her pads too full too she flicks uppishly but hard and adds four through the vacant midwicket. Nor is that all: right after India moves third slip to midwicket, she twinkles toes down and across then relaxes the wrists to guide four more through the newly-vacant area. That's beautifully done, and a single to mid-off follows; that's 16 off the last two overs and England is starting to move again. 6.16 am EDT06:16 95th over England 277-7 (Dunkley 13, Ecclestone 6) Sophie Ecclestone is only playing her third Test but she's yet to be dismissed and loves her batting. And after Dunkley cuts to point for one, she dabs down to the point fence and they run two that's a nice shot, and after two dots, the second of which beats her outside off when she tentatively swipes, she bends her front knee to clout a half-volley through extra cover for four. She doesn't wait to be asked. 6.11 am EDT06:11