India Women suffered a heartbreaking defeat to England at The Oval, squandering a prime opportunity to seal the T20I series despite being in a dominant position.
A Rollercoaster Match at The Oval
The second T20I saw a dramatic turn of events for both teams. England, after a blistering start, experienced a massive batting collapse. India, in response, seemed to be cruising towards a series-clinching victory but then faltered dramatically in the closing overs.
This match was a mirror image of the previous one in Bristol, where India recovered better from early wickets. This time, Harmanpreet Kaur’s side couldn’t find the finishing momentum, handing England a five-run victory and keeping the series alive at 2-1.
England’s Batting Implosion
England got off to a flying start, with openers Sophia Dunkley (75) and Danni Wyatt-Hodge (66) smashing commanding fifties. They built a century stand, reaching 137 without loss in just 15.1 overs.
However, what followed was an astonishing collapse. From that strong position, England lost an incredible nine wickets in just 29 balls, finishing their innings on 171 for 9. Indian bowlers Deepti Sharma (3/27) and Arundhati Reddy (3/32) were instrumental in triggering this dramatic slide.
India’s Missed Opportunity
Chasing 172, India looked comfortable with Smriti Mandhana (56) and Shafali Verma (47) providing a solid 85-run opening partnership. They were cruising at 123 for 1 in 13 overs, needing a very achievable 49 runs from 42 balls.
However, England’s bowlers, particularly Lauren Filer (2/30), began to apply pressure with a mix of slower balls. Mandhana’s dismissal, after a sequence of dot balls, was a turning point. Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh also fell cheaply, and India struggled to find boundaries.
With 12 runs needed off the final over, captain Harmanpreet Kaur (23) tried to hit a big shot but was caught off the last ball, falling short by a single boundary as India finished on 166 for 5.
Captains’ Reflections
Harmanpreet Kaur acknowledged the missed opportunity, stating, “We had the game till the 16th over, we did not utilise (the advantage). Lots of learning for us.” She praised her bowlers for their outstanding comeback after England’s strong start.
England’s ability to triumph despite some awful fielding and dropped catches highlights the effectiveness of their bowling at the crucial moments.
- India failed to close out the chase despite being in a dominant position, allowing England to snatch victory.
- Both teams experienced significant batting collapses, but India’s proved more costly in the run-chase.
- England’s bowlers executed their slower ball plans effectively under pressure, securing the win despite fielding errors.
This thrilling encounter sets the stage for an exciting fourth match in Manchester on Wednesday, where India will look to bounce back and secure their maiden T20I series win over England.
