England Women vs India Women Test match report: Charlotte Edwards’ dismissal leads to another collapse

England Women 92 & 110-6 India Women 114

England captain Charlotte Edwards was out to the first ball after a two-hour rain delay at Wormsley (Getty Images)

England squandered a good position on the second day of the women’s Test, slumping from 73 for 2 to 110 for 6 at stumps for a lead of just 88.

A fluent partnership of 38 between opener Lauren Winfield and captain Charlotte Edwards had put them into a solid position. But a two-hour rain delay in mid-afternoon changed everything. Edwards was dismissed with the first ball after the resumption, edging behind pushing tentatively forward to spinner Ekta Bisht, and then Lydia Greenway followed shortly afterwards, lbw playing down the wrong line having added just one.

A good position had become a shaky one at 74 for 5. This became 84 for 6 when Surrey’s Natalie Sciver was bowled by a perfectly pitched yorker.

Having begun their second innings far more positively, England repeated the mistakes of the first day, pushing and prodding tentatively. They allowed Bisht – the left-arm spinner who was not turning the ball – to bowl 21 overs for just 15 runs. They probably should have used their feet and gone after her in one-day mode.

England appear to be paralysed with fear, intimidated by the length of the game and terrified of getting out playing attacking shots.

Finding themselves effectively 60 for 6, England’s mindset switched back to survival as they scored at just over a run an over. The usually positive Sarah Taylor made just 17 from 61 deliveries in 75 minutes.

Earlier India had resumed on 87 for 6, but lost their four remaining wickets for just 27 runs, giving them a first-innings lead of just 22. Jenny Gunn finishing with career-best Test figures of 5 for 19.