New Delhi: England women have won the T20I series following a batting collapse by India. Sophie Ecclestone came out as the hero of the match after taking three crucial wickets in the end. Conditions have been such that the team winning the toss has won the game after batting second. In the low-scoring encounter, England managed to halt India at 122/8 and chased the score with seven wickets and 10 balls in hand.
Richa Ghosh and Pooja Vastrakar tried to get India to a defendable score but Sophia Dunkley and 18-year-old Alice Capsey were too good for the Indian bowling attack. The top-order collapse for India proved to be the cause of the series loss, which they will look out to improve in the ODIs.
India starts with 35/5 to end up at 122
Indian batters had a poor start as England came up with a spin strategy. Bryony Smith started with the ball and made it clear that England is ready to weave a spinning web. Shafali Verma took her chances in the beginning and was eventually bowled by Issy Wong. Smith continued and took a big wicket of Smriti Mandhana as Ecclestone took a blinder. Out of form Meghana was also dismissed early to end the powerplay at 20/3. After the wickets of Dayalan Hemalatha and Harmanpreet Kaur, India stood at 35/5 in 10 overs.
Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana tried to build a partnership which lasted for only 17 runs. Soon Deepti Sharma was also dismissed by Ecclestone as she was stumped after a fumble by Amy Jones. Richa Ghosh took matters into her hand and hit Wong for three consecutive boundaries in the next over. After Ghosh’s dismissal for 33(22), Pooja Vastrakar led India to a fine end hitting 15 runs in the last over.
England chases 122 after good start
English batters had a good start as Danni Wyatt and Sophia Dunkley made a 70-run partnership. India’s pace attack looked ineffective and Harmanpreet Kaur had to give spin a chance. Sneh Rana led to a breakthrough and three consecutive wickets helped India to come back in the game. Rana dismissed Wyatt for 22(23) after Radha Yadav, who is at her best in fielding currently, took the catch. Next over, Radha bowled a maiden and Pooja Vsatrakar came in to get Dunkley out for 49 off 44. Radha came back and dismissed Amy Jones and England stood at 79/3 after 13 overs.
There was a bit of pressure on the English side, but not on Alice Capsey. The young batter was dealing in boundaries and led England to a 7-wicket victory with her 38* off just 24 deliveries. Ecclestone was named the Player of the Match for her 25/3.
