Ind v Eng Women’s World T20 Review: England sneaks home in a dramatic thriller

India and England produced an absolute humdinger in Dharamsala in a key Group B game in the Women’s World T20. English skipper Charlotte Edwards won the toss and elected to field on a slow and turning track at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium. Her side bowled brilliantly to restrict the home side to 90/8 however what followed in the second innings of the match gave England some nervous moments before that ecstatic winning feeling.

Vellaswamy Vanita (0) was out in the first over giving England a perfect start. Player of the match Heather Knight (3/15) floated up and angled across off as Vanita went for a slog sweep. The ball did not come on and she only dragged it into the hands of Lydia Greenway. It was a poor choice given the slow nature of the surface. Smriti Mandhana was promoted to open the innings and played some good looking shots, however, was also fortunate to have survived a drop chance. She made 12 off 16 including 2 fours before being bowled by Anya Shrubsole (2/12).

Shikha Pandey was promoted to play some attacking cricket, however, found it difficult to do that on a slow pitch. She made 12 off 19 and was out to a brilliant boundary catch by Catherine Brunt off the bowling of Knight. Mithali Raj made 20 off 33 including 2 four before being dismissed by Natalie Sciver (1/7). Wickets of Veda Krishnamurthy (2) and Jhulan Goswami (2) put the pressure on Harmanpreet Kaur (26 off 25) and Anuja Patil (13 off 13) to take India to a challenging total which they did with some sensible batting.

Ekta Bisht (4/21) was selected in the side and justified her selection by removing Edwards (4) in the 3^rd over. Tammy Beaumont (20 off 18) and Sarah Taylor (16 off 11) played positively and tried to unsettle the Indian bowlers. The two took the score to 42 before Kaur got in the act and removed both of them off successive deliveries to put the pressure right back on the visitors.

Wickets of Knight (8), Greenway (0) and Sciver (19) were taken by Bisht to reduce England to 71/6. The run-out of Danielle Wyatt (5) reduced her team to 79/7 at the end of 16 overs. Goswami’s 2^nd ball had Brunt (4 not out) plumb in front however the umpire thought otherwise. Jenny Gunn (7) edged one behind the stumps for 4 that further frustrated the Indian Women.

Gunn’s run out in the next over reduced England to 87/8 and India now had a real chance to emerge victorious. Krishnamurthy bowled 4 tight deliveries before a full-toss that was hit straight by Shrubsole to Kaur at cover. The Indian dropped an absolute sitter and Shrubsole smashed the final ball of the over, another full-toss, past point for a 4 to seal England’s victory. It was a thrilling encounter that had the crowd interested right till the end.

Brief Scores:

India Women: 90/8 in 20 overs (H Kaur 26; H Knight 3/15)

England Women: 92/8 in 19 overs (T Beaumont 20; E Bisht 4/21)

Player of the match: Heather Knight (England Women)