IND-W vs ENG-W 2023: England beat India by 38 runs in 1st WT20

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IND-W vs ENG-W 2023: England women's cricket team handed hosts India a lopsided 38-run loss in the first WT20I at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday (December 6). England took a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20 series.

Nat Sciver-Brunt starred in the match with a knock of 53-ball 77, which took England to a huge 197/6 in 20 overs. In response, India could only manage a 159/6 in 20 overs with Shafali Verma scoring a 42-ball 52.

As India failed to put up a significant fight against the big target, Captain Harmanpreet Kaur (26), and Richa Ghosh (21), failed to convert their starts. India proved to be too strong for the home team as they needed 74 runs from the final five overs.

With figures of 3/15, left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone stood out among the England bowlers, taking out Shafali, Harmanpreet, and Kanika Ahuja. In a kind of one-woman war, Shafali hit 52 off 42 balls and nine fours, but she was unable to find a partner until the end of her innings. This was the right-handed batter's seventh fifty in the format.

The chase by India suffered early setbacks when Jemimah Rodrigues (4) was caught behind by Freya Kemp's first delivery in the sixth over, and Smriti Mandhana (6) was easily dismissed by Nat Sciver-Brunt in the third over. However, even with the loss of two important batsmen, India was 53/2 in the powerplay and appeared ready to attempt a big chase until England's spinners entered the picture.

Following a period of injury rest, the frugal Ecclestone showed no signs of weakness as she easily defeated India's captain Harmanpreet (26 off 21 balls, 3x4s, 1x6) when her partnership with Shafali began to pose a threat to the visitors.

Harmanpreet also looked to be getting into her elements but her charge was halted by Ecclestone who cramped the Indian skipper for room in the 11th over. Harmanpreet added 41 runs for the third wicket.

Richa Ghosh (21) and Shafali provided a glimmer of hope for India with their brisk 26-ball 40-run stand for the fourth wicket but Glenn broke their stand to peg the hosts back again. The asking rate kept getting out of India's reach and the game's fate was decided much before the final ball.

England also did not make glaring mistakes like India did in the first half in the field, with the visitors' fielding in the deep being top-notch and their players taking most of the chances that came their way. Richa was caught at long-on off Glenn in the 15th over and Shafali's fall in the 17th meant India's hopes were all but over.

Earlier, marauding fifties by Danni Wyatt (75) and Natalie Sciver-Brunt (77) powered England Women to 197 for six after early stuttering. Wyatt and Sciver-Brunt put on a record 138 runs for the third wicket for England, which was also their first century stand against India in T20Is, after they were asked to bat first.

India seamer Renuka Singh Thakur (4-0-27-3) was the pick among the bowlers as she struck twice in a row in the first over to dismiss Sophie Dunkley (1) and Alice Capsey (0). But Wyatt and Sciver-Brunt's counter-attack saw England dominating the remainder of the first innings.

The hosts also appeared to have lost the steam soon after the early breakthroughs, failing to drive home the advantage as they were guilty of poor bowling and fielding.
Wyatt, who took charge of the recovery after the early blows, stroked her way to a 47-ball 75 studded with eight fours and two sixes to record her third fifty against India in the format.

She also got a lifeline when Pooja Vastrakar spilled a catch at long-on off Shreyanka Patil (2/44). On the other hand, Sciver-Brunt smacked as many as 13 fours to make 77 off only 53 balls, unleashing powerful hits on both the sides particularly sweep shots for her fifth T20I half-century against India.

-With inputs from PTI