India Women marked a landmark achievement by sealing their first-ever T20I series triumph in England, grabbing an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match contest. This milestone comes as ideal preparation with the T20 World Cup less than a year away on English soil.
Wednesday’s clash at Old Trafford was defined by India’s spinners, Radha Yadav and Shree Charani, who combined effectively to take 4 wickets for 45 runs in eight overs, keeping England to a modest 126/7 after the hosts opted to bat for the second consecutive game.
India’s response was emphatic. The opening duo of Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana quickly erased any doubts about the target’s adequacy. England had managed only eight boundaries in their entire innings, while India smashed nine in just the first four overs. The opening stand of 56 in seven overs put the visitors firmly in control of the chase.
Deepti Reaches New Heights
India’s spinners struck early to remove both English openers during the powerplay. Charani was hit for a four and a six by Sophia Dunkley in her first three balls, but hit back immediately, dismissing Danni Wyatt-Hodge with a mistimed loft to long-on.
Dunkley, looking well set, fell in the sixth over after she was tempted into a lofted drive by Deepti Sharma, who cleverly altered her flight. Radha Yadav took an excellent low catch at point. That scalp was particularly meaningful, as it pushed Deepti past Nida Dar’s career tally, making her the most successful spinner in women’s T20I history. She now trails only Megan Schutt (151 wickets) overall by six dismissals.
Spin Dominance Continues
Tammy Beaumont tried to spark England’s innings by driving Sneh Rana for a pair of well-placed boundaries through a crowded off-side in the eighth over. But her counter-offensive didn’t last; she holed out at long-on off Radha’s bowling. England then lost two wickets in quick succession as Alice Capsey fell lbw to a reverse sweep against Charani, reducing them from 68/2 to 93/5 by the 15th over.
Ecclestone’s Late Flourish
England’s innings lost momentum entirely during the middle overs, with no boundary from the 10th to the end of the 19th—56 balls without a four or six. Poor running compounded their problems, highlighted by Charlie Dean’s run-out from backward point after a mix-up. India’s outfielding was top-notch, cutting angles sharply and holding their catches, with Arundhati Reddy taking three well-judged grabs at long-on.
Sophie Ecclestone, playing her 100th T20I before a home crowd, finally ended the drought in the 19th over with a four off Amanjot Kaur, then launched two slog-swept sixes off Deepti Sharma in the final over to give England’s total a late boost. They managed 16 runs in the last over to finish on 126.
Shafali Sets the Tone
Shafali Verma immediately took on England’s short-ball strategy with fearless strokeplay. Hard lengths and back-of-a-length deliveries were dispatched with ease as she backed away to carve, shovel, and drive boundaries, hammering 14 runs in one over from Lauren Filer to energize the chase. Coming off two low scores and left out of the ODI squad, this was a timely confidence-restoring innings.
Mandhana wasn’t content to watch, either. She lofted Dean over mid-on with elegance, helping the opening partnership cross fifty in the seventh over. Ecclestone almost dismissed Shafali on 29 with a running catch attempt, but soon after, Shafali fell for 31, slicing to deep square leg.
Middle-Order Steers It Home
Mandhana fell shortly after, lofting to short third. That triggered a spell of 40 balls without a boundary, stretching from overs 7.2 to 13.6, before Jemimah Rodrigues finally broke the silence with a lifted shot over Lauren Bell. Harmanpreet Kaur, meanwhile, struggled to find timing, surviving a searching spell from Ecclestone, who bowled with exceptional flight and variation to record 3-0-11-1 at one stage.
Harmanpreet finally broke free when 27 runs were needed off 34 balls, hitting Dean over extra cover and then to the deep square-leg fence in back-to-back deliveries. That effectively settled the contest. Rodrigues and Harmanpreet added 48 from 42 balls to ensure there were no stumbles this time. While Harmanpreet departed before the end, Rodrigues stayed to finish unbeaten on 24, completing the chase with a delicate paddle shot with 18 deliveries to spare.
