Mumbai, June 28, 2025:
India Women began their three-match T20I series against England Women with a thumping 97-run victory at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. A packed home crowd witnessed a dominant all-round performance from the Women in Blue, who outplayed the visitors in all departments to script one of their most emphatic wins in T20I history.
Match Summary:
India Women won the toss and opted to bat first on a batting-friendly surface. The decision turned out to be golden as Shafali Verma (71 off 36) set the tone with her explosive strokeplay in the powerplay. Supported well by Smriti Mandhana (42 off 28) and Jemimah Rodrigues (39 off 21), the Indian team posted a mammoth 189/4 in 20 overs.
In reply, England Women never found their rhythm. With early wickets tumbling, including that of skipper Heather Knight and star batter Danni Wyatt, the chase collapsed spectacularly. India’s spinners, led by Deepti Sharma (3/16) and Radha Yadav (2/12), strangled the middle order, bundling England out for 92 runs in 15.4 overs.
🟦 India Women Innings – 189/4 (20 Overs)
Aggressive Batting Sets the Tone
🔹 Powerplay (Overs 1–6): 70/0
- Shafali Verma went berserk, smashing boundaries from ball one.
- Smriti Mandhana played second fiddle but also rotated strike well.
- Notable overs:
- Over 2: Shafali hit 4 boundaries off Freya Kemp
- Over 4: Lauren Bell taken for 16 runs
🔹 Middle Overs (7–15): 65/2
- Mandhana dismissed for 42 (28) – caught trying to go over the infield
- Jemimah Rodrigues joined Shafali, who reached her half-century in 26 balls
- Shafali finally dismissed for 71 (36), caught at long-off
- Rodrigues accelerated with sweeps and reverse-sweeps
🔹 Death Overs (16–20): 54/2
- Rodrigues scored 18 runs in two overs before falling for 39 (21)
- Harmanpreet and Richa finished the innings with power shots
- Final over went for 12 runs, taking India to 189/4
🟥 England Women Innings – 92 All Out (15.4 Overs)
Top Order Collapse and Spin Choke
🔹 Powerplay (Overs 1–6): 38/3
- Danni Wyatt (11) and Maia Bouchier (8) fell early to pace
- Skipper Heather Knight (13) tried counterattack but edged to slip
- Renuka Thakur and Pooja Vastrakar took advantage of new ball movement
🔹 Middle Overs (7–12): 33/4
- Nat Sciver-Brunt tried rebuilding (17 off 14), but Deepti removed her with a clever off-break
- Deepti then bowled Amy Jones and had Dunkley caught – double blow in over 10
- England 71/6 at the end of 12 overs
🔹 Death Overs (13–15.4): 21/3
England folded at 92 in 15.4 overs
Radha Yadav cleaned up lower order with quick arm balls
Last 3 wickets fell in 7 deliveries, with no runs added
🌟 Turning Points
England’s collapse: From 63/3 to 92 all out — 7 wickets for 29 runs
Powerplay Assault: India’s 70/0 start broke England’s rhythm early
Shafali’s 71 in 36: Unmatched aggression that laid the foundation
Deepti Sharma’s 10th over: Double strike killed the English chase
India Women Innings:
Total: 189/4 in 20 overs
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shafali Verma | 71 | 36 | 10 | 3 | 197.22 |
| Smriti Mandhana | 42 | 28 | 7 | 1 | 150.00 |
| Jemimah Rodrigues | 39 | 21 | 4 | 2 | 185.71 |
| Harmanpreet Kaur | 17* | 14 | 1 | 1 | 121.42 |
| Richa Ghosh (wk) | 8* | 6 | 1 | 0 | 133.33 |
| Extras | 12 | ||||
| Total | 189/4 | 20 Overs |
Fall of wickets: 1-86 (Mandhana), 2-123 (Verma), 3-160 (Rodrigues), 4-177 (Kaur)
England Bowling:
- Sophie Ecclestone: 4-0-34-1
- Sarah Glenn: 4-0-39-1
- Freya Kemp: 3-0-28-0
- Lauren Bell: 4-0-41-1
- Charlie Dean: 4-0-35-1
England Women Innings:
Total: 92 all out in 15.4 overs
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danni Wyatt | 11 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 110.00 |
| Maia Bouchier | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 114.29 |
| Heather Knight (c) | 13 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 118.18 |
| Nat Sciver-Brunt | 17 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 121.42 |
| Amy Jones (wk) | 14 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 93.33 |
| Sophia Dunkley | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 75.00 |
| Freya Kemp | 5 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 83.33 |
| Charlie Dean | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Lauren Bell | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Sophie Ecclestone | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 125.00 |
| Sarah Glenn | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Total | 92 all out | 15.4 Overs |
Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-29, 3-51, 4-63, 5-71, 6-74, 7-79, 8-83, 9-92, 10-92
India Bowling:
- Deepti Sharma: 4-0-16-3
- Radha Yadav: 3.4-0-12-2
- Renuka Thakur: 3-0-21-1
- Shreyanka Patil: 3-0-19-1
- Pooja Vastrakar: 2-0-20-2
Key Moments & Match-Breaking Analysis:
- Powerplay Domination: India scored 70/0 in the first 6 overs with Shafali going berserk, setting the tone for a big total.
- Middle-order Momentum: Rodrigues ensured the innings didn’t lose pace after the openers were dismissed.
- Bowling Brilliance: Deepti Sharma’s 3 wickets dismantled the English spine, while Radha choked them with spin.
- Fielding Discipline: India were sharp on the field, with three catches and a stunning run-out from Jemimah.
Player of the Match:
Shafali Verma – 71 (36) with a strike rate of 197.22
