England overcome Indian battle to secure four-wicket win and lead T20I Series 2-0

England defeated India for just 80 runs in 16.2 overs. In defense of the target, Renuka Singh and Deepti Sharma showed character, but it was just not enough.

Mumbai: Indian bowlers put up a commendable fight while defending a low total of 81 runs, but England sealed the three-match T20I series by beating Women in Blue by four wickets in the second T20I at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday.

Indian batters just couldn’t beat the English bowlers, with only Jemimah (30) and Smriti Mandhana (10) reaching double figures. England defeated India for just 80 runs in 16.2 overs. In defense of the target, Renuka Singh and Deepti Sharma showed character, but it was just not enough.

Chasing 81, India got off to a solid start as pacer Renuka Singh removed both openers Sophia Dunkley (9) and Danni Wyatt (0), reducing England to 19/2 in three overs.

Alice Capsey, the young all-rounder, joined forces with the veteran Nat-Sciver Brunt. At the end of the powerplay in six overs, England were 49/2.
England reached the 50-run mark in 6.2 overs.

Their 42-run stand came about when Pooja Vastrakar cleared Sciver for 16. England were 61/3 in 7.5 overs.

India put up a bit of a fight, with spinner Saika Ishaque picking up Capsey for 25. Deepti Sharma also removed Amy Jones (5) and Freya Kemp (0), England were 73/6 in 10.3 overs.

However, captain Heather Knight (7*) and Sophie Ecclestone (9*) guided the team to a four-wicket win.

Renuka (2/26) and Deepti (2/4) took two wickets for India, while Saika and Pooja got one each. India lost the series 2-0.

Earlier, England bowlers wreaked havoc on Indian batters by bowling out hosts for 80 in 16.2 overs in the third T20I of three-match series here at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on Saturday.

Each England bowler took a wicket, with Charlotte Dean and Sarah Glenn bagging two wickets each. In a quite terrible batting performance from India, Jemimah Rodrigues was the lone warrior, who vigilantly scored 30 runs against a blistering English attack.

Charlotte Dean opted to bowl first and drew first blood in the match when she removed opener Shafali Verma for a two-ball duck. Smriti Mandhana tried to handle the attack and slammed the boundaries but her innings came to an end when she was removed by Dean.

In the 5th over, Harmanpreet Kaur slammed two consecutive boundaries before falling prey to Nat Sciver-Brunt after making nine runs. Lauren Bell then cleared all-rounder Deepti Sharma in the 6th over. India continued to lose wickets at regular intervals, Sophie Ecclestone then removed Richa Ghosh for 4.

It was believed to be all over for India at Wankhede after their team was reduced to 45/6 after 9.4 overs. India’s nightmare continued into the match when well-placed batsman Jemimah Rodrigues departed after consecutive fours, leaving India reeling at 68-8 after 13 overs.

England’s Ecclestone ended India’s hopes of going past 100 runs when she removed Saika Ishaque for 8 to bowl out hosts for 80.

Short score:

India: 80 (Jemimah Rodrigues 30, Smriti Mandhana 10; Sarah Glenn 2-13)

England: 82/6 in 11.2 overs (Alice Capsey 25, Nat Sciver Brunt 16, Deepti Sharma 2/4).