Smriti Mandhana’s Record-Breaking Century, England’s Worst-Ever T20I Defeat

Nottingham: While India’s senior men’s team lost the first Test in England, the juniors bounced back with a six-wicket win over England’s Under-19 team in an ODI on Friday. Then on Saturday, India’s women’s team defeated England Women by a record 97 runs in the first T20I — marking England’s heaviest defeat in Women’s T20Is in terms of runs.

The match belonged to captain Smriti Mandhana, who created history with a blistering 112 runs off 62 balls (3 sixes, 15 fours), earning the Player of the Match award. On the bowling side, 20-year-old debutant left-arm spinner Shri Charani produced a brilliant spell of 3.5 overs, 12 runs, and 4 wickets.

Mandhana became the first Indian woman to score centuries in all three formats – Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. She already has 2 Test centuries and 11 ODI tons to her name.

Shree Charani was playing her debut T20 international, stepping in after regular captain Harmanpreet Kaur missed the match due to a head injury sustained in practice.

Chasing a massive target of 211 runs, England collapsed to 113 all out in 14.5 overs. Besides Charani’s four-wicket haul, Deepti Sharma and Radha Yadav took two wickets each.

England suffered an early collapse, losing two wickets for just nine runs. Although captain Nat Sciver-Brunt (66 off 42 balls, 10 fours) tried to steady one end, no batter could support her from the other side, and Indian bowlers kept striking.

Earlier, India, having been put into bat after Sciver-Brunt won the toss, scored 210/5 in 20 overs. The standout was Mandhana’s century, supported by Harleen Deol’s 43 off 23 balls. They shared a crucial 94-run stand for the second wicket.

England’s captain Sciver-Brunt, who plays for Mumbai Indians in the WPL, opted to bowl first. India capitalized fully, with openers Shafali Verma (20 runs) and Mandhana adding 77 runs for the first wicket.

England pacer Lauren Bell took 3 wickets for 27 runs, while Sophie Ecclestone dismissed Mandhana. Amanjot Kaur remained unbeaten on 3, and Deepti Sharma on 7.

Also Read: IND vs ENG Test: WWE at Team India Nets! Arshdeep and Akash Wrestle Coach Morkel | Video