India Women produced a composed and clinical performance at the County Ground on Tuesday, defeating England Women by 24 runs to seize a 2–0 lead in the five-match T20I series. The visitors, buoyed by a 93-run stand between Jemimah Rodrigues and Amanjot Kaur and incisive bowling from Shree Charani, held their nerve to claim back-to-back wins on English soil.
After electing to bat, India overcame early setbacks to post 181 for 4, before restricting the hosts to 157 for 7 in their 20 overs. The triumph follows a commanding 97-run win in the opening encounter at Nottingham and places India just one victory away from securing their first-ever bilateral T20I series win against England.
India’s innings began with a stutter as opener Shafali Verma departed for just 3 in the second over, falling to a surprise bouncer from Lauren Filer that looped into the gloves of wicketkeeper Amy Jones. Smriti Mandhana, fresh off her match-winning century in the first game, managed only 13 before holing out to mid-on. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur’s return to the side after injury was short-lived as she too fell for a solitary run, leaving India tottering at 31 for 3.
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It was left to Jemimah Rodrigues and Amanjot Kaur to rescue the innings. The pair displayed poise under pressure, compiling a crucial 93-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Rodrigues made a fluent 63 before falling in the 15th over, while Amanjot remained unbeaten on 63 off 40 deliveries—her maiden T20I half-century in only her ninth appearance. Richa Ghosh added a late flourish with a quickfire 32 from 20 balls.
England’s reply began in disarray as a mix-up between Sophia Dunkley and Danni Wyatt-Hodge resulted in a run-out off the final ball of the opening over. Hodge perished the very next delivery, miscuing a shot to Harmanpreet at mid-off. By the third over, England were reeling at 17 for 3, with Nat Sciver-Brunt’s brief counterattack cut short by Amanjot’s brilliance with the ball.
A stabilising 70-run partnership between Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones kept the hosts in the contest, but Beaumont was run out for 54 just as England appeared to gain momentum. The dismissal opened the floodgates, as Shree Charani returned to snare Jones (32) and Alice Capsey (5) in the same over, ending England’s challenge.
Charani finished with figures of 2 for 28, ensuring India remained firmly in control throughout the latter half of the match.
The third T20I will be played at The Oval on Friday—a venue of historical significance where India’s men clinched their first-ever Test series victory against England. A win there would seal India Women’s first multi-game series triumph against the English.
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