Mandhana’s Maiden T20I Ton Powers India to 97-Run Win over England
The Indian women’s cricket team made a blistering start to their five-match T20I series against England, registering a comprehensive 97-run win over the hosts in the first match at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on Saturday. The win was largely due to the magnificent batting display of Smriti Mandhana, who scored her maiden T20I century to help India post a total of 210 runs on the board.
Chasing a massive target of 211, England were bundled out for just 113 runs, with the Indian bowlers dominating the proceedings. The win has given India a perfect start to the series, and they will look to build on this momentum in the remaining matches.
Mandhana’s remarkable innings of 102 runs off 76 balls, which included 10 fours and 3 sixes, was the highlight of India’s batting performance. She shared a crucial 71-run partnership with Jemimah Rodrigues (26) to take the score to 140 runs in the 16th over. After Mandhana’s departure, Harmanpreet Kaur (20) and Deepti Sharma (12) added some valuable runs to help India post a competitive total.
In response, England’s batting lineup crumbled under the pressure of India’s strong bowling attack. Poonam Yadav (3/26) and Radha Yadav (2/22) were the standout bowlers for India, while Shafali Verma (1/14) and Deepti Sharma (1/22) also chipped in with important wickets.
England’s batting order struggled to get going, with only Amy Jones (24) and Natalie Sciver (21) managing to score in double digits. The rest of the batswomen failed to contribute, with the hosts losing wickets at regular intervals.
The match was effectively sealed by the 15th over, as England were struggling to reach even 100 runs. India’s fielding was also impressive, with the girls collecting 5 catches and 1 stumping to dismiss England’s batswomen.
The win has given India a much-needed boost ahead of the remaining matches in the series. The team will look to build on this momentum and continue their good form in the remaining matches.
For England, the loss will be a cause for concern, as they struggled to cope with India’s strong batting and bowling attack. The hosts will need to regroup and come up with a better strategy to counter India’s strengths in the remaining matches.
Overall, the match was a comprehensive win for India, and they will look to continue their winning streak in the remaining matches of the series.
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