England endured their heaviest defeat in T20 cricket history as India dominated the opening match of the series with a commanding 97-run win. India posted a formidable total of 210-5, with Smriti Mandhana leading the charge, smashing an unbeaten 112 from 62 balls. England, in response, were bowled out for just 113 inside 15 overs, falling to a crushing loss.
The match marked the beginning of the Charlotte Edwards-Nat Sciver-Brunt era for England, but it was a performance far below expectations. Aside from Sciver-Brunt’s valiant 66 from 42 balls, England’s batting collapsed spectacularly. Shree Charani, on her T20 debut, was the standout bowler for India, taking four wickets for just 12 runs, including a crucial dismissal of Sciver-Brunt, who was caught behind after a review. England’s batting frailties were further exposed as they slipped to 70-5, with Alice Capsey’s meek dismissal typifying their struggles.
India had been without their regular captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, who was sidelined due to a head injury. However, Mandhana stepped up as the stand-in leader and made an emphatic statement, producing her first-ever T20I century. Her knock was a display of effortless class, and when she reached three figures, she pointed towards teammate Radha Yadav in the dressing room, acknowledging a promise she had made to her. Yadav had told Mandhana that she needed to convert her many near-centuries into a big one. Mandhana delivered in style, holding up her finger to show that she had finally done it.
Although England’s bowlers showed some fight, notably Lauren Bell who took three wickets in the death overs, the chase was always beyond them. With India’s huge total putting England on the back foot, their batting collapse seemed inevitable. A series of dropped catches, including a costly miss by Danni Wyatt-Hodge off Harleen Deol, only compounded England’s woes.
The defeat leaves England with much to reflect on ahead of the second T20 in Bristol. Sciver-Brunt, though visibly frustrated, remains optimistic about the team’s ability to bounce back. “It’s all about partnerships with the bat, and we just couldn’t execute,” she said. With three days to regroup, England will hope to find the right rhythm in the next match.
