🏏 A Breakthrough Night in Bristol
On July 2, 2025, at the County Ground in Bristol, India Women registered a crucial 24-run victory over England in the second match (of a five-match T20I series), taking an unassailable 2–0 lead youtube.com+10indiatoday.in+10cricket.one+10.
Caught in early trouble at 181/4, India’s recovery was built on two monumental knocks: 63 off 40* by debut fifty-maker Amanjot Kaur, and 63 off 41 from Jemimah Rodrigues newsbytesapp.com. Their 93‑run stand came off just 55 balls, effectively turning the tide from a modest position of 31/3 crictracker.com+2newsbytesapp.com+2timesofindia.indiatimes.com+2.
Amanjot, batting at No. 5 for the first time in her career, forged a path with powerful yet calculated strokes. Her unbeaten knock featured nine boundaries, solid strike rotation, and key wickets from her right-arm medium pace—earning her Player of the Match honors cricbuzz.com+5indiatoday.in+5facebook.com+5.
⚙️ Anatomy of the Innings
Early Collapse
India was rocked early:
- Shafali Verma departed for 3, Smriti Mandhana fell cheaply for 13, and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, returning after a head injury, was out for a single. India slipped to 31/3 in just under six overs newsbytesapp.com+6cricbuzz.com+6cricket.one+6sports.ndtv.com+6indiatoday.in+6timesofindia.indiatimes.com+6.
- England claimed three early wickets, exploiting shaky batting conditions and disciplined bowling .
The Juggernaut Partnership
With India on the ropes, Jemimah Rodrigues (63 off 41) and Amanjot Kaur anchored the innings. From overs 11–14, India legged out 59 runs, staying ahead of required tempo m.facebook.com+13cricbuzz.com+13newsbytesapp.com+13.
- Rodrigues nailed her 13th WT20I fifty;
- Amanjot unveiled her potential with her maiden T20I fifty, concluding with 63 off 40* newsbytesapp.com.
Their 93‑run stand sits as one of India’s highest partnerships against England in WT20Is—only behind two stands in 2018 and 2025 newsbytesapp.com.
The Finisher Plays Her Part
After Rodrigues’ dismissal, Richa Ghosh smashed an unbeaten 32 off 20, striking rapidly in a 57-run stand with Amanjot in the final slog overs cricbuzz.com+1newsbytesapp.com+1. Their late assault pushed India to a robust total of 181/4.
🎯 Amanjot’s All‑Round Brilliance
Amanjot’s performance was electric and multi-faceted:
- Batting: 63* from 40 balls, with nine fours m.facebook.com+6cricbuzz.com+6newsbytesapp.com+6
- Bowling: Picked up a crucial wicket—Nat Sciver-Brunt—bowling her for 13 (10) inkl.com+4facebook.com+4cricket.one+4
- Fielding: Struck with timely fielding presence and energy.
She remained unbeaten even after Ghosh’s cameo, showing poise and temperament typical of seasoned finishers sports.ndtv.com+11crictracker.com+11zeenews.india.com+11.
Post–match, Amanjot spoke with confidence:
“It is the first of many. I want to do it more for India. This is the new Indian team… ready to dominate.” indiatoday.in+10inkl.com+10facebook.com+10
🧩 Bowling & Fielding
India’s bowlers then stretched routine control:
- Shree Charani took 2–28, dismantling England’s middle order at a crucial phase timesofindia.indiatimes.com+4crictracker.com+4economictimes.indiatimes.com+4timesofindia.indiatimes.com+2cricket.one+2cricbuzz.com+2.
- Tammy Beaumont’s 54 off 35 anchored England’s chase but wasn’t enough; india’s disciplined lines accounted for early collapses m.economictimes.com+4cricket.one+4cricbuzz.com+4.
- Sophie Ecclestone offered late resistance but still couldn’t take England home inkl.com+2cricket.one+2crictracker.com+2.
England ended at 157/7, falling short of the target cricbuzz.com+1crictracker.com+1.
📌 Historical Significance & Context
- England suffered their first-ever Women’s T20I loss at Bristol. m.economictimes.com+5indiatoday.in+5timesofindia.indiatimes.com+5
- With the previous game in Nottingham resulting in a record 97‑run victory, India now leads the series 2–0—on the cusp of their first T20I series win in England since 2006 indiatoday.in+1timesofindia.indiatimes.com+1.
- India clinched their largest-ever WT20I total at Bristol: 181 for 4 inkl.com+2newsbytesapp.com+2timesofindia.indiatimes.com+2.
📚 Amanjot Kaur: The Rising Star
Early Life & Domestic Roots
Born in Mohali, Punjab, Amanjot developed in domestic circuits—playing first for Chandigarh, then Punjab facebook.com+2sports.ndtv.com+2economictimes.indiatimes.com+2.
- She studied at APJ Smart School, later graduating from Guru Gobind Singh College for Women, Chandigarh economictimes.indiatimes.com.
- Initially overshadowed by domestic peers, she’s recently seized national attention through gritty performances .
WPL & ODI Highlights
Earlier in 2025, Amanjot featured prominently in the Women’s Premier League:
- In February 2025, she helped the Mumbai Indians pull off a thrilling 4-wicket win over RCB economictimes.indiatimes.com+12sports.ndtv.com+12facebook.com+12.
- In May 2025, she was part of India’s dominant performance in the Women’s Tri-Nation ODI series, where India beat Sri Lanka by 97 runs sports.ndtv.com.
📊 Statistical Snapshot
Match | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR | Wickets |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Powerplay | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Partnership | 93* | 55 | – | – | – | – |
Total Score | 181/4 | 20ov | – | – | – | – |
Amanjot Kaur | 63* | 40 | 9 | 0 | 157.5 | 1 |
- Her strike rate of 157.5 was unmatched, outpacing England bowlers in every phase indiatoday.in+4cricbuzz.com+4newsbytesapp.com+4.
- The 93‑run stand was India’s 3rd‑highest partnership vs England in WT20Is newsbytesapp.com+1timesofindia.indiatimes.com+1.
- Her bowling scalped Nat Sciver-Brunt—a pivotal wicket disrupting England’s momentum timesofindia.indiatimes.com+4facebook.com+4crictracker.com+4.
🌍 International & Series Context
A New-Look India
India’s performance signals a renewed energy under captain Harmanpreet Kaur, with promising contributions from younger players (Amanjot, Rodrigues, Ghosh) cricket.one+2cricbuzz.com+2crictracker.com+2.
The momentum from the first two matches is reflected by phrases like “all-round show,” “on the cusp of rewriting history,” and “clinical discipline” in multiple reports .
England’s Response
Despite spirited efforts (Beaumont’s 54 and Ecclestone’s cameo), England found themselves unable to regain control; their collapse at 17/3 and subsequent middle-order downfall highlighted India’s dominance cricket.one+1timesofindia.indiatimes.com+1.
💬 Voices from the Ground
- Harmanpreet Kaur hailed the innings: “A good win for us – the way the entire team performed today was special… When boundaries weren’t coming, they were looking for twos.” indiatoday.in
- Tammy Beaumont reflected on her own performance and the team effort: “I’m loving having to think differently about batting… but it’s never as satisfying when we’re on the losing side.” economictimes.indiatimes.com+5inkl.com+5cricbuzz.com+5
- Amanjot, on her achievement: “It is the first of many… Wherever we go, home or away, we are ready to dominate.” inkl.com.
🧠 Tactical & Technical Insights
- India’s middle-order revival via pairing power with pace cemented their innings.
- Amanjot’s batting featured aggressive use of boundaries, well-paced footwork, smart strike rotation, and an ability to adapt to spinner and seamer alike—an indicator of high cricketing intelligence.
- Early breakthroughs tilted control India’s way; England unable to recover from key wickets like those of Mandhana, Shafali, and Harmanpreet thwarted their ability to chase.
🔍 Looking Ahead: What It Means
- With India now at 2–0, a series win is in grasp—ending a 19-year drought since their last T20I series win in England (2006) indiatoday.in.
- A final hammer in this form would shift narratives and rankings, boosting confidence ahead of ICC events.
- Amanjot Kaur is now a player to watch; her fearless style and maturity under pressure hint at a long-lasting role in the national side.
📅 Next Fixtures
- 3rd T20I scheduled for July 4, 2025, at The Oval, London. This is an opportunity for England to bounce back and potentially unseat the Indian momentum economictimes.indiatimes.com.
🧩 Final Word
Amanjot Kaur’s maiden international fifty, combined with her bowling cameo, symbolises not just a personal breakthrough but a broader shift in India’s cricketing depth and capability. As India chases survival or victory in England, a new core—powered by young talent—has emerged. Managers, cricket lovers, and selectors all have reason to watch Amanjot’s trajectory closely: this evening was but the first chapter.