India Women’s cricket team delivered a commanding 97-run victory over England Women in the opening T20I of a five-match series at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, propelled by stand-in captain Smriti Mandhana’s scintillating maiden T20I century and a sensational debut performance by left-arm spinner N Shree Charani. The win, India’s most dominant T20I victory against England by runs, gave them a 1-0 lead in the series and set a formidable tone ahead of the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup.
Smriti Mandhana’s Century
Electing to bat first after England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt won the toss, India posted a daunting 210/5 in their 20 overs, their second-highest T20I total and the highest against England in the format. Smriti Mandhana, leading the side in place of the injured Harmanpreet Kaur, anchored the innings with a breathtaking 112 off 62 balls, studded with 15 fours and three sixes.
Her century, reached in just 51 balls, marked her as the first Indian woman—and the fifth globally, alongside Heather Knight, Tammy Beaumont, Laura Wolvaardt, and Beth Mooney—to score centuries across all three international formats. Mandhana’s elegant strokeplay, featuring crisp drives, deft sweeps, and powerful pulls, overwhelmed England’s bowlers, with a mere 10% false shot rate underscoring her dominance.
Mandhana found an able partner in opener Shafali Verma, back in the T20I side after a strong domestic season. The duo stitched a 77-run opening stand in 51 balls, setting a solid platform. Shafali’s 20 off 22 balls ended with a mistimed shot off Emily Arlott, but Harleen Deol’s arrival sparked further fireworks. Deol’s aggressive 43 off 23 balls, relying heavily on sweeps, complemented Mandhana in a rapid 94-run second-wicket partnership in just 45 balls.
England’s bowling faltered, with Sophie Ecclestone, returning from injury, conceding 19 runs in one over, including two sixes by Mandhana. Lauren Bell (3/27) provided some resistance, dismissing Deol, Richa Ghosh (12), and Jemimah Rodrigues (0) in quick succession, but India’s momentum was unstoppable. Mandhana fell to Ecclestone in the final over, but Deepti Sharma’s quickfire 7* off 3 balls pushed India past 200, a feat making them the first Full Member team to score 200+ in consecutive Women’s T20I innings.
England’s fielding woes, including a dropped catch by Alice Capsey off Mandhana early on, compounded their struggles. The Trent Bridge pitch favored batting, but England’s inability to seize early chances allowed India to capitalize ruthlessly.
Smriti Mandhana hit Century just 51 balls against England #ENGvIND #ENGWvsINDW #INDWvENGW pic.twitter.com/DHgfJuE6C9
— Info india (@IndEnfo) June 28, 2025
England’s Batting Collapse
Chasing 211, England crumbled to 113 all out in 14.5 overs, their heaviest T20I defeat by runs. India’s bowlers, led by debutant N Shree Charani, executed a disciplined plan, bowling slower and exploiting the wind. Charani, a 20-year-old left-arm spinner, delivered a dream debut, claiming 4/12 in 3.5 overs—the second-best figures by an Indian woman on T20I debut, behind Sravanthi Naidu’s 4/9. Her wickets included Alice Capsey, Sophie Ecclestone, Nat Sciver-Brunt, and Lauren Bell, effectively dismantling England’s lineup.
England’s innings unraveled early, with openers Sophia Dunkley (to Amanjot Kaur) and Danielle Wyatt-Hodge (to Deepti Sharma) falling within the first two overs, leaving them at 9/2. Nat Sciver-Brunt fought a lone battle, scoring a valiant 66 off 42 balls with 10 fours, reaching her fifty in 31 balls. However, her dismissal by Charani, caught behind attempting a cut, triggered a collapse. No other England batter reached double digits, with India’s bowlers—Deepti Sharma (2/32), Radha Yadav (2/15), Arundhati Reddy (1/18), and Amanjot Kaur (1/22)—maintaining relentless pressure. Richa Ghosh’s sharp catch behind the stumps further highlighted India’s fielding edge.
Key Performers and Records
- Smriti Mandhana (Player of the Match): Her 112 off 62 balls set a new record for the highest individual T20I score by an Indian woman, surpassing Harmanpreet Kaur’s 103. Her partnerships with Shafali Verma (77 runs) and Harleen Deol (94 runs) were pivotal.
- N Shree Charani: The debutant’s 4/12 marked her as a star in the making, dismantling England’s middle and lower order.
- Harleen Deol: Scored 43 off 23 balls, accelerating India’s innings with aggressive strokeplay.
- Nat Sciver-Brunt: Her 66 off 42 balls was England’s only resistance, but lack of support led to their downfall.
- Lauren Bell: Took 3/27, but England’s overall bowling effort lacked discipline.
Post-Match Reflections
Mandhana, speaking post-match, emphasized her focus on timing over power, a skill she’s honed for T20s, and credited Deol’s aggression for easing her role. “We wanted to play our shots and put pressure on their bowlers. The bowlers then executed our plans perfectly,” she said. England’s Nat Sciver-Brunt admitted her team was outplayed, citing poor bowling and fielding as key areas to address. “We were completely outdone today. India played brilliantly, and we need to regroup,” she said.
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Series Outlook
India’s emphatic win sets the stage for an intriguing series, with the second T20I scheduled for July 1, 2025, in Bristol. The five-match T20I series, followed by three ODIs, is crucial preparation for the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup, hosted by England and Wales. India’s squad, despite missing Renuka Singh and Pooja Vastrakar, showcased depth with Shafali Verma’s return and Charani’s debut. England, rebuilding under coach Charlotte Edwards, face a stern test after their Ashes loss and recent series against the West Indies.
India’s performance signals their intent to dominate, while England will look to bounce back to level the series. With Mandhana in sublime form and young talents like Charani emerging, the series promises more thrilling contests.