Smriti Mandhana was in cracking touch on Tuesday [Image Credits; Twitter]
A brilliant spell from off-spinner Sneh Rana (3/24 in 3) and violent, sustained poetry in batting from Smriti Mandhana (79* off 53 deliveries) has helped India women enforce a series decider as they thumped England by 8 wickets in the 2nd T20I on Tuesday (September 13).
Chasing 143, India got off to a cracking start as Smriti and Shafali Verma flayed the English bowlers to all corners of the ground.
Smriti, as she always does, set the tone early in the innings as she stepped down against seamer Lauren Bell to cut her delivery behind square in the first over of the innings.
It was a sign of things to follow as Mandhana, en route to her 17th T20I half-century, unleashed poetic violence of the highest order, painting every corner of the County ground with her audacious strokeplay.
Dabs? Check. Swivel pull? Check. Lofted on-drive? Check. Square-cut? Check. Lofted straight drive? Check. Cover-drive? Check? Ramp over short fine-leg? Check. You name it and it was there.
She got decent support from Shafali Verma, who was typically brutal in her short, but entertaining stay at the crease. The duo added 53 runs in just 5.3 overs before a sensational return catch from Sophie Ecclestone brought an end to Shafali's innings.
Smriti, however, continued with her onslaught as she used her feet and pristine timing to put Ecclestone and Sarah Glenn off their lengths.
Dayalan Hemalatha followed suit Harmanpreet Kaur came out and matched Smriti for blows to blows to restore normal services.
Smriti completed yet another half-century off 36 deliveries and she celebrated that by swivel pulling, ramping Ecclestone before finishing things off in style courtesy of a statement-making lofted off drive to hand her side a comprehensive victory.
 "Yash Mittal")
