Indian women’s team skipper Mithali Raj on Saturday (June 26) admitted being surprised by the umpires’ decision to abruptly end their one-off Test against England in Bristol last week even though Indian batters in the middle wanted to continue.

Debutants Sneh Rana and Taniya Bhatia, who had forged a match-saving 108-run partnership for the 9th wicket on the fourth and final day, were at the crease when umpires called off play citing bad poor light.

Rana was batting on 80 not out at that time and she had a great opportunity to hit a century on debut.

“We wanted to continue, that’s what we informed the opposing captain. I was also on the backfoot when I saw bails were taken off. Sneh Rana said bad light call was taken by the umpire. That’s what we were told,” Mithali said during a virtual press conference.

“But then both the teams were congratulating each other. It is pretty much taken that the match is over. That’s what I was told by Sneh Rana.”

England had enforced follow-on after the visitors got bowled out for 231 in reply to the home team’s first innings total of 396/9 (declared).

The Indians produced a herculean batting effort in the second essay to ensure a draw. Apart from Rana, Shafali Verma (63), Deepti Sharma (54) and Taniya Bhatia (44*) starred with the bat to take India to 344/8.

(With PTI inputs)