IND-W vs ENG-W: England steal the win despite Mandhana's fifty, Renuka's fifer
England players celebrating a wicket [Twitter]
After winning their opening two World Cup matches, Team India were brought down by a spirited England side on Saturday. At one stage, India had the game on their hands, but some loose bowling and some innovative batting by Nat Sciver and Amy Jones, helped the England side win the match by 11 runs.
Both England women and India women were undefeated heaidng into this T20 World Cup clash, and India will be disappointed after giving away the game from a winning situation.
The only shining light for India was Renuka Singh Thakur, who continue her rise at the international cricket, and picked up 5 for 15 to rattle the England batting lineup. But she hardly got any support from the other end as the same old slog overs bowling issues came back to haunt the Indian team.
At one stage, England were 29 for 3, with Renuka Thakur being the chief destroyer. But that scoreline changed quickly and in T20Is, momentum can shift in the blink of an eye. Nat Sciver played a crucial knock of 50 from 42 balls, but Amy Jones, made the difference with a quick-fire 27-ball 40 to take her side to a competitive 151.
India were off to a flier, thanks to Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, but once Verma departed for 8, wickets fell like a pack of cards and Mandhana was stranded at one end. With the quick wickets of Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur, India were sent in a precarious situation.
Mandhana somewhat went in her shell, but completed a fine half-century. However, just when India needed her the most, Sarah Glenn got the prized wicket and the Women in Blue were left in a dire situation. Richa Ghosh dealt some lusty blows, but the required rate was just a bit too much to climb as the Asian team lost the match by 11 runs.
Talking Points
- Renuka, the new star: Arguably India's best bowler at the moment, she rattled the England side with a fine spell of pace bowling. Renuka got the crucial wickets of Danielle Wyatt, Sophia Dunkley, and Alice Capsey at the top, and came back in the later spell to take the wickets of dangerous Amy Jones and Katherine Brunt.
- Jones-Sciver show: England were tottering at one stage and needed something magical. Amy Jones and Nat Sciver did just that. The duo added 40 runs in quick succession and India were pushed on the back-foot.
- Sarah Glenn changes the momentum: India were still looking good when Mandhana and Richa Ghosh were at the crease. But Sarah Glenn scalped the most crucial wicket of the game, in the form of Mandhana to change the equation. Mandhana went after her and Sciver made no mistake with the catch.
Brief Score
England Women: 151-7 (20)
Nat Sciver 50 (42), Amy Jones 40 (27);
Renuka Singh Thakur 5-15 (4), Shikha Pandey 1-20 (4)
India Women: 140-5 (20)
Smriti Mandhana 52 (41), Richa Ghosh 47* (34)
Sarah Glenn 2-27 (4), Sophie Ecclestone 1-14 (4)
 "Anurag Dasgupta")
