In a nail-biter, England beat India by five runs. That riveting contest was played on the County Ground in Hove, the home of Sussex cricket. This victory marked a significant turnaround for the English team and kept the series alive, leveling it at 2-1. Stand-in captain Tammy Beaumont took a calculated risk when she won the toss. By choosing to bat first, she allowed her team the opportunity to set a total that would put pressure on their opponent.
Under pressure from two poor opening stands of nine and two runs in the previous matches, England’s top order rose to the occasion. Batting stars Sophia Dunkley and Danni Wyatt-Hodge led the charge, both hitting high scores of 75 and 66. Their partnership provided the foundation of England’s innings, allowing them to set a challenging total of 171 runs.
Dunkley and Wyatt-Hodge’s ability to come in and set the tone early by batting first would prove crucial, as they combined for a powerful 136-run partnership. Dunkley scored her 75 runs off 53 balls, striking seven boundaries, while Wyatt-Hodge made her 66 runs from 42 balls, hitting six fours and one six. Their overall performance set the stage for a strong foundation for England.
In reply, India went down swinging, nearly chasing down the target. While Captain Smriti Mandhana was leading the charge with a respectable 56 runs, Jemimah Rodrigues made her own contributions with 20 runs. Harmanpreet Kaur battled deep to keep India in the chase, particularly after Capsey spilled a catch that would prove costly. Though she fought stubbornly, India lost. Kaur’s late innings saw her trying to take the game deep, but England’s bowlers kept their composure under pressure.
She stole the show with her historical domination on the lanes. She recorded an astonishing average pace of 76 mph, setting a new T20 career best. She delivered a stunning hat-trick of first-ball wickets, leaving India reeling after having elected to bat at the start of their innings. India put England on the back foot at times, but missed out on opportunities to take the match away from their opponents. Instead, they dropped the ball on the field.
As the match reached its climax, India needed 12 runs from the last over, with six required off the final delivery. They could do no better than a paltry five, handing England a most slender victory.
“That was absolutely unreal. I don’t think I’ve played in a game like that. The atmosphere, the crowd and the game were amazing.” – Sophia Dunkley
For her part, Beaumont said she was proud of the way her team fought. “I think that’s what you live for in cricket. As captain, those are the moments you live for,” she stated after the match.
Harmanpreet Kaur reflected on her team’s near-miss: “I think we were in the game until the 16th over, but after that we didn’t utilise. We forged ahead, responsibly with resolve. Ultimately, as is so often the case, we came up short by a single boundary.
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