England’s women’s cricket team continued their impressive form in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup as they secured a hard-fought 11-run win over India in a high-scoring encounter at the Manuka Oval in Canberra on Friday.
After winning the toss and electing to bat first, England got off to a flying start with openers Danielle Wyatt and Tammy Beaumont putting on a 67-run stand in just 8.1 overs. However, India’s veteran off-spinner, Renuka Singh, turned the game on its head by picking up five wickets in just two overs to leave England reeling at 89-6 in the 13th over.
Singh, who had only been drafted into the team for this game, had a dream debut, finishing with figures of 5-26 in her four overs. Her spell included the wickets of England’s top four batters, including the dangerous Heather Knight and Nat Sciver.
However, England’s middle-order showed great resilience and managed to put up a competitive total of 158-7 on the board, thanks to some handy contributions from the lower order. Katherine Brunt (18 off 8) and Sophie Ecclestone (9 off 5) played some valuable cameos towards the end of the innings to give England a good chance of defending their total.
In response, India got off to a decent start with their openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana adding 28 runs for the first wicket. However, England’s bowlers struck back with regular wickets, with left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone picking up two crucial scalps in the middle overs.
Despite a valiant effort from Harmanpreet Kaur, who scored a quickfire 30 off 20 balls, India eventually fell short by 11 runs, finishing on 147-7 in their allotted 20 overs. England’s all-round performance saw them register their second consecutive victory in the tournament, while India suffered their second consecutive defeat.
India will look to bounce back in their next game against Australia, while England will take on South Africa in their third game of the tournament. Overall, it was a thrilling encounter between two of the top teams in the women’s game, with both teams showcasing their strengths and weaknesses.
While Renuka Singh’s five-wicket haul was a standout performance for India, England’s resilience in the face of adversity was the key to their victory. The lower order’s contribution in the batting department was also noteworthy, as it helped England reach a competitive total despite losing wickets in a cluster.
England’s bowling, led by Ecclestone’s impressive spell, was also crucial in restricting India’s chase. Ecclestone, who was named Player of the Match for her efforts, finished with figures of 2-19 in her four overs, and was well supported by the rest of the bowling unit.
Overall, England will be delighted with their performance in the tournament so far, having won both their games convincingly. Their next game against South Africa will provide them with another opportunity to showcase their skills and continue their winning run.
India, on the other hand, will need to regroup quickly if they are to keep their hopes of making it to the semi-finals alive. They have a tough game against the hosts Australia next, and will need to improve on their performance from this game if they are to stand a chance of beating the defending champions.
In conclusion, the women’s T20 World Cup has been a thrilling tournament so far, with plenty of exciting matches and standout performances. England’s win over India was another example of the high-quality cricket being played in the tournament, and fans will be eagerly anticipating the upcoming matches.
