India beat England by 24 runs to win the second T20 of the series. Behind this triumph, India has taken an ideal 2-0 lead within the five-match blip. The match, held at the iconic Edgbaston in Birmingham, showcased India’s batting prowess while exposing England’s vulnerabilities, particularly in the absence of their captain, Heather Knight.
The odds were heavily stacked against England right from the start, as they suffered an early dramatic collapse to find themselves rocked at 17-3 after only two overs. That brutal beginning would become the theme for her side’s innings, as they failed to dig their way out of the hole. Tammy Beaumont top-scored with a crucial 54 runs, with Sophie Ecclestone contributing a useful 35-run score. England faltered in their innings, finishing on 157-7 after the full 20 overs.
It was India’s batting that really set the tone for their success. They set a daunting target of 181-4, with A Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues hitting fifties, both scoring 63. Their collaboration was key in strengthening India’s score. This created a huge amount of pressure on the English batting order.
The game started with England’s bowlers starting well in the powerplay. Lauren Bell showed what she is capable of by taking two for 17 and capitalising on early chances. As the Indian batsmen got their eye in, England couldn’t adjust.
“I thought we started off well in the powerplay with three wickets. Every bowler that came on was really focused on that but then they got a big partnership, which we didn’t adapt to as quickly as we’d like,” said England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt.
The Indian innings was built on selective aggressiveness and pairing up batsmen. A Kaur opened the batting, scoring a blistering international T20 half-century and launching her team into an early offensive flurry that would set the tone for the match. Rodrigues was equally aggressive, working her way through the innings and ensuring India stayed ahead of the run rate.
In reaction, England’s top order was rocked by the fresh conditions. When Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Sophia Dunkley went in the first two overs, making it 1-2 already, their early woes were exacerbated. Captain Sciver-Brunt’s dismissal for 13 runs added to England’s woes as they grappled to find stability in the middle order.
While Beaumont’s innings was a class apart, the rest of the batting order struggled to keep pace against a disciplined Indian bowling attack. Shree Charani had an outstanding game with 2-28. Secondly, her remarkable bowling added pressure to England, who were seeking to chase down the target.
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