India Women Defeat England Women by 6 Wickets in 4th T20I to Clinch Series 3-1
Manchester/Patiala, 10 July (Sports Desk)
Date and Venue: July 9, 2025, Emirates Old Trafford,
Series: India Women tour of England, 2025 (4th T20I of a 5-match series)
Result: India Women won by 6 wickets with 18 balls remaining, securing the series 3-1.
Player of the Match: Radha Yadav (2 wickets for 15 runs and two catches)
Match Summary
India Women achieved a historic milestone by securing their first T20I series victory on English soil, defeating England Women by 6 wickets in the 4th T20I at Old Trafford. This victory gave India an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series, with one game remaining. The match showcased India’s disciplined bowling, led by their spinners, and a clinical batting performance during the chase, setting the stage for their dominance ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Toss and Team Details
- Toss: England Women won the toss and elected to bat first.
- England Women Squad: Sophia Dunkley, Danielle Wyatt-Hodge, Maia Bouchier, Tammy Beaumont (c), Amy Jones (wk), Alice Capsey, Em Arlott, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Charlotte Dean, Lauren Bell, Issy Wong, Paige Scholfield, Linsey Smith.
- India Women Squad: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Richa Ghosh (wk), Amanjot Kaur, Deepti Sharma, Radha Yadav, Arundhati Reddy, Sneh Rana, Shree Charani, Kranti Goud, Sayali Satghare, Yastika Bhatia, Harleen Deol.
- Note: Nat Sciver-Brunt was absent due to a groin injury but is expected to return for the upcoming ODI series.
England Women Innings: 126/7 (20 overs)
England, opting to bat, struggled against India’s spinners and disciplined bowling attack, managing only 126 for 7 in their 20 overs. The innings was marked by regular wickets and a lack of momentum, with India’s spinners exploiting the conditions effectively.
Key Performances
- Sophia Dunkley: 22 runs – Top-scored for England but fell to Deepti Sharma in the sixth over, caught by Radha Yadav after being deceived in flight. This wicket marked Deepti Sharma surpassing Nida Dar to become the leading wicket-taker among spinners in women’s T20Is.
- Tammy Beaumont: 20 runs – Showed brief aggression with two boundaries off Sneh Rana but holed out to long-on off Radha Yadav.
- Sophie Ecclestone: 35 runs (23 balls, 4×4, 1×6) – Provided a late surge in her 100th T20I, hitting two sixes off Deepti Sharma in the 19th over, contributing to a 16-run final over.
- Other Contributions: Alice Capsey (lbw to Shree Charani) and other middle-order batters failed to build partnerships, leading to England slumping to 93/5 by the 15th over. watch…..India vs. England 2nd Test 2025: Shubman Gill’s Twin Tons and Akash Deep’s Ten Wickets Secure India’s Historic Victory at Edgbaston
Idia’s Bowling
India’s spinners dominated, taking five wickets and restricting England’s boundary-scoring opportunities. The bowling unit executed a plan to bowl slower and force England to hit against the wind, a strategy that proved highly effective.
- Radha Yadav: 2 wickets for 15 runs – Earned Player of the Match for her tight bowling and two well-judged catches, including Dunkley’s dismissal.
- Shree Charani: 2 wickets for 30 runs – Struck crucial blows, including Capsey’s wicket, continuing her impressive series form.
- Deepti Sharma: 1 wicket – Dismissed Dunkley, achieving a personal milestone as the leading spinner in women’s T20Is.
- Sneh Rana: Bowled tightly but went wicketless, conceding boundaries to Beaumont.
Innings Highlights
- England managed only eight fours in their innings, reflecting India’s disciplined bowling.
- The final over, bowled by Deepti Sharma, yielded 16 runs, largely due to Ecclestone’s aggressive hitting, giving England a defendable but below-par total of 126/7.
India Women Innings: 127/4 (17 overs)
India chased down the target of 127 with ease, finishing at 127/4 in 17 overs, thanks to a blazing start by their openers and steady contributions from the middle order. The powerplay proved decisive, with India capitalizing on England’s short-pitched bowling.
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Key Performances
- Shafali Verma: 31 runs – Set the tone with an explosive 14-run over against Lauren Filer, including three fours, showcasing fearless aggression. Her knock was crucial for her confidence after low scores earlier in the series.
- Smriti Mandhana: 32 runs (31 balls) – Complemented Shafali with a clean strike over mid-on off Charlotte Dean, dismissed by Sophie Ecclestone in the 8.5th over.
- Jemimah Rodrigues: 27* runs – Remained unbeaten, hitting the winning runs with a paddle shot off Ecclestone in the 17th over, guiding India to victory with three overs to spare.
- Harmanpreet Kaur: 26 runs (25 balls) – Played a supportive role before being caught by Ecclestone off Issy Wong in the 15.5th over.
- Richa Ghosh: Contributed to the chase, scoring a single to level the scores before Rodrigues sealed the win.
England’s Bowling
England’s bowlers struggled to contain India’s aggressive batting, particularly in the powerplay, where they conceded nine boundaries in four overs compared to their own eight in the entire innings.
- Sophie Ecclestone: 1 wicket – Dismissed Mandhana and bowled tightly but couldn’t prevent the chase.
- Issy Wong: 1 wicket – Removed Harmanpreet Kaur but was expensive.
- Lauren Filer and Charlotte Dean: Struggled against India’s openers, with Filer conceding 14 runs in the second over.
Innings Highlights
- India’s openers, Shafali Verma and Mandhana, dominated the powerplay, setting a strong foundation.
- The chase was clinical, with small partnerships ensuring India crossed the line comfortably. Jemimah Rodrigues’ composed finish sealed the victory.
Post-Match Comments
- Harmanpreet Kaur (India Captain): “We are really grateful [to win a first T20 series in England]. It was really important for us to get the momentum. I am really proud of my team for the way we played this series and how everyone has contributed.” She highlighted the team’s preparation through WPL seasons and training camps.
- Radha Yadav (Player of the Match): Recognized for her 2/15 and two catches, she played a pivotal role in restricting England.
- Tammy Beaumont (England Captain): Acknowledged India’s dominance, noting their batting struggles and the need to address spin bowling issues ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Series Context
- India took a 2-0 lead with victories in the first two T20Is (by 97 runs and 24 runs, respectively). England fought back in the third T20I, winning by 5 runs, but India’s win in the fourth match sealed the series.
- This victory marked India’s first T20I series win in England, a significant achievement following their 3-0 ODI series sweep in 2022.
- The fifth and final T20I is scheduled for July 12, 2025, in Birmingham, followed by a three-match ODI series.
Significance
India’s performance in the 4th T20I underscored their growing prowess in T20 cricket, particularly their spin bowling strength and aggressive batting approach. The series win is a confidence booster ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup, to be hosted in India. For England, the loss highlighted their struggles against spin, a concern with the World Cup looming. The match also showcased India’s balanced squad, with contributions from both experienced players like Deepti Sharma and emerging talents like Shree Charani
