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The Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai is currently playing host to a captivating cricket match featuring the one-off Test between India and England. The second day of play at the venue unfolded with several remarkable moments, but none captured the spotlight quite like Renuka Thakur‘s magical inswinging delivery, which left the crowd in sheer awe and England’s Sophia Dunkley utterly bewildered.
India’s dominant bowling after a remarkable batting display
As the play on Day 2 commenced, England quickly wrapped up India’s innings to avoid any further damage as the Women in Blue had reached a formidable total of 428. Shubha Satheesh (69), Jemimah Rodrigues (68), Yastika Bhatia (66), and Deepti Sharma (67) contributed significantly to the team’s total. However, in response, England Women found themselves reeling at 67/2 and trailing by 361 runs until Lunch Break.
Sophia Dunkley’s early departure
The turning point of the match came when Renuka, with a fiery spell of swing bowling, drew first blood for India. The victim of her magical delivery was none other than Sophia, who departed with just 13 runs on the board.
Renuka’s magical inswinging delivery
Renuka’s inswinging full-length delivery was a sight to behold. The ball shaped back in sharply, leaving Dunkley completely bewildered. Despite conceding a couple of boundaries earlier in the over, the India pacer stormed back in style with a delivery that rattled Sophia’s stumps.
Also READ: India’s Smriti Mandhana and England’s Tammy Beaumont divided over the idea of introducing ICC Women’s World Test Championship
Dunkley’s surprise and the long walk back
Sophia, known for her resilience, was visibly surprised after the dismissal. The magical delivery had outfoxed her, and she took a moment to gather herself before making the long walk back to the pavilion. The Indian team celebrated the crucial breakthrough, recognizing the significance of Thakur’s skill and precision.
Here’s the video:
First wicket in Test cricket for Renuka Singh Thakur! 👏 👏
What a cracker of a dismissal that was! 👌 👌
Follow the Match ▶️ https://t.co/UB89NFaqaJ #TeamIndia | #INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/qOec4kOHTC
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) December 15, 2023
Renuka’s impact went beyond Sophia’s wicket as her skilful swing bowling not only dismissed a key batter but also set the tone for India’s dominance in the Test match.
