Bowlers and batters failed to fire in unison once again as India Women were beaten quite easily by their England counterparts in the first T20I at the Wankhede in Mumbai on Wednesday.
In response to England Women’s 197/6, after they were put in, all that India could manage was 159/6 as the visitors registered a 38-run win to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Pacer Renuka Singh (3/27) with the ball and opener Shafali Verma (52 off 42 balls) with the bat aside, the others in the team just couldn’t put their hands up, which is a must against a tough opposition.
India though were off to a fine start when Renuka’s double strike in the first over, removing Sophia Dunkley and Alice Capsey off successive deliveries, had England wobbling at 2/2. But the English side proved its quality as Danni Wyatt (75 off 47 balls) and Nat Sciver-Brunt (77 off 53 balls) stitched a 138-run stand for the third wicket.
Amy Jones’ 23 off just nine balls made it a perfect finish for the visitors, helping them power past 190.
In reply, Shafali had to fight a lone battle while Harmanpreet Kaur, even after a solid start, couldn’t carry on as left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone (3/15) again had the better of the Indian captain.
