MATCH REPORT
Follow UsEngland opening batter Danielle Wyatt smashed an unbeaten 56-ball 89 to help her side crush India Women in the third by eight wickets in the third and final T20 International (T20I) at Chelmsford on Wednesday (July 14). She was well supported by Natalie Sciver (42) with whom she put on 112 for the second wicket. With this win, England have won the T20I series 2-1. They won the One-Day International (ODI) series by the same margin as well, while the one-off Test ended in a draw.
India have lost four back-to-back white-ball series in a row. India had previously lost the T20Is and the ODIs against South Africa at home.
India posted 153 for 6 in their 20 overs, thanks to a brilliant 51-ball 70 from opener Smriti Mandhana. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur too chipped in with a valuable 36 off 26 deliveries, after India had lost Shafali Verma (0) and Harleen Deol Cheaply (6).
With the series locked at 1-1, it was Indian vice-captain Mandhana, who was at her graceful best during the 51-ball knock which had eight fours and two sixes.
She pulled the pacers effortlessly, played some lovely lofted inside-out shot off spinners while adding 68 runs with skipper Harmanpreet (36 off 26 balls), who looked in some sort of form. Young Richa Ghosh smashed four boundaries towards the end in her 13-ball-20 which took the score past the 150-run mark.
While India had defended 148 in the previous game, their spinners were taken to task by Wyatt who smashed as many as 12 boundaries and a six. She got fantastic support from ICC's No.1 ranked all-rounder Sciver, who chipped in with a 42 off 36 balls after having bowled economically to take 1 for 16 in four overs.
However, the evening belonged to Wyatt, who simply smashed an out of form Radha Yadav (0 for 37 in 4 overs) and Poonam Yadav (0 for 32 in 4 overs). In fact, Wyatt came out of her crease to counter Poonam's loopy slow deliveries smashing her all over the park.
The chase became a cakewalk in 18.4 overs. The twin series loss after the South Africa home series defeat has been a big setback for the women's team which is set to play the 50-over World Cup in New Zealand early next year.
They will next be travelling to Australia and the tour also features their maiden day-night Test.
Brief scores:
India Women 153 for 6 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 70, Harmanpreet Kaur 36; Sophie Eccelstone 3 for 35) lost to England Women 154 for 2 in 18.4 overs (Danielle Wyatt 89*, Natalie Sciver 42; Deepti Sharma 1 for 29)
Player of the match: Danielle Wyatt
Player of the series: Natalie Sciver
(With inputs from PTI)
