India lose by 11 runs to England, endure first defeat in Women’s T20 World Cup

Medium pacer Renuka Singh’s fifer and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana’s high-quality half-century went in useless as India misplaced to England by 11 runs to endure their first defeat within the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup on Saturday.

Renuka Singh registered her finest bowling figures (5/15) to assist India limit England to 151 for seven after Harmanpreet Kaur opted to bowl.

Renuka did the early injury, choosing up the primary three wickets to peg England again after which returned to take two extra in the direction of the fag finish of the innings.

In the chase, vice-captain Smriti Mandhana led the cost with a 41-ball 52, which was studded with seven boundaries and a six, whereas Richa Ghosh remained unbeaten on 47 off 34 balls as India fell quick by 11 runs, managing 140 for five of their 20 overs.

India didn’t have one of the best of begins, shedding Shafali Verma within the fourth over. Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet too departed in fast succession as India slumped to 62 for 3 in 10.2 overs.

But Mandhana and Ghosh shared a 43-run fourth-wicket stand to maintain India within the hunt.

But England skipper Heather Knight made some sensible bowling modifications in the direction of the top to stifle India’s run stream.

Needing 34 runs off the ultimate two overs, Sophie Ecclestone bowled a superb penultimate over, making a gift of simply three runs and in addition accounted for the wicket of Deepti Sharma.

In the ultimate over, the asking grew to become too steep, however Ghosh discovered the boundary twice and in addition hit a six off Katherine Sciver-Brunt, nevertheless it was not sufficient.

With India needing 59 off 30 balls, Mandhana tried to up the ante and stepped out to hit Sarah Glenn for a most to convey up a well-deserved half-century.

But the bowler had the final snort as Mandhana departed looking for one too many, caught by Katherine Sciver within the very subsequent ball.

Earlier, India made an ideal begin after opting to bowl as Renuka induced a faint outdoors edge from Danni Wyatt and Richha Ghosh gleefully accepted the prospect within the third supply of the day.

Renuka was on fireplace as she accounted for 2 extra English batters in her subsequent two overs at hand India the higher hand after Harmanpreet received the toss and elected to bowl.

Renuka first cleaned up Alice Capsey within the third over after which got here again to disturb the woodwork of Sophie Dunkley in her subsequent over as England slumped to 29 for 3 in 4.4 overs.

Thereafter, Nat Sciver-Brunt and skipper Heather Knight (28) took the assault to the opposition and performed aggressively.

The duo shared a 51-run stand off simply 38 balls to offer some impetus to England’s innings.

But simply when the partnership was wanting threatening, Shikha Pandey broke the stand, choosing up her first wicket since October 2021.
It was a fortunate breakthrough for Pandey as Knight picked out Shafali Verma within the covers — the one fielder contained in the circle — from a juicy full toss outdoors off.

Nat Sciver did all of the arduous work en route her 42-ball 50 however gave away her wicket when England wanted her probably the most, caught by Smriti Mandhana at quick third man off Deepti Sharma’s bowling because the batter went for a reverse sweep, solely to miscue it.

In the ultimate over of England’s innings, Renuka accounted for Amy Jones (40 off 27) and Katherine Sciver-Brunt to report her finest T20I bowling figures.

England are by means of to the semi-finals, whereas India will play Ireland subsequent on February 20.