Harmanpreet Kaur India's 'Angel of the North' in 13 run win

One of the most striking landmarks in the North East of England is the Angel of the North. Situated close to the A1 and A167 in Gateshead, it’s seen by millions as they enter or leave Tyneside with its striking wingspan and prominence in the landscape unavoidable. If you’ve never seen it before, imagine an umpire signalling a wide, just a steel version.

Photo Credit: BCCI

England’s cricket team don’t have an Angel of the North, a stoic player representing the North East – a pride of the region. In the modern era, the only Durham-born player making it to England has been Dani Hazell who accumulated 141 international caps between 2009 to 2018. For this to happen, she left Durham and moved down to Yorkshire.

Thanks to Emma Lamb’s presence in the England side playing in the 3^rd ODI at Chester-Le-Street, Preston is the furthest North that a current England player was born or grew up in. While this is not a debate about the North v South (of course the North would win easily in most categories), it’s fascinating that Durham’s only representation in the England side since 2018 is their 2025 signing, Lauren Filer who has spent her whole life in the South West. Of course, much of this has to do with the structure of women’s cricket traditionally, funding and resources as well as a whole host of other factors.

At U19 level, England have had prospects from the region perform. In 2023, Northumberland-born Lizzie Scott, who now plays for Durham, featured out in South Africa while Durham Academy graduates Grace Thompson and Trudy Johnson both played in the 2025 U19 World Cup and have made senior Durham debuts since.

While Harmanpreet Kaur’s disciplinary record may not suggest that she is an ‘angel’, she demonstrated some of the figurative characteristics of the Angel of the North: prominent and strong. Finishing 102 from 83, the captain (born in Moga in the North of India) led the charge with the bat.

From 115/2 at the halfway stage to finishing 318/5, India timed their innings perfectly. Sophie Ecclestone was easily England’s most affective bowler taking 1/28 from her ten overs while her teammates were going at 6s and 7s. India had to play Ecclestone differently, protecting their wicket and batting out her overs.

A chase of 319 was always going to be a bit of a mountain to climb. It was closer to a tough Alpine landscape but England made it look like Everest. With both their openers gone after 2.1 overs and the run rate five below what was required it looked like a lacklustre chase was ensuing. Added to this, Sneh Rana bowled back-to-back maidens and Nat Sciver-Brunt was stuck on 2 from 20 making 319 seem impossible.

After 16 consecutive dot balls from Rana, Sciver-Brunt found a boundary. There’s something quite validating about even one of the best batters in the world being stuck on 2 from 20 but in typical Sciver-Brunt fashion, she couldn’t just leave the innings like that.

A measured half century had the potential to turn into a valiant century in what could have been a winning cause. Given ‘not out’ by the on-field umpire, Deepti Sharma immediately reviewed without consulting her captain. Sciver-Brunt’s body language told the whole story, defeated, only getting up to trudge off and throw her head back in frustration. Out on 98.

Following Sciver-Brunt’s departure, the writing was on the wall. The brief period of optimism had ended and the required run rate rose to 10 an over. It wouldn’t have been surprising if the crowd thinned or turned their attention to the (likely) more entertaining game of England v Italy in the Euros semi finals with England 56 runs short of the total and only five overs to knock them off.

It doesn’t help either when 21-year-old Kranti Gaud, in just her fourth ODI appearance, takes 6-fer. It does help however when number 11 Lauren Bell hits her first six in international cricket, mainly to the amazement of herself. But ultimately, it was all over with Gaud collecting her sixth, India winning by 13 runs.