A fightback with the bat and brilliance from England’s spinners set up an 11-run victory over India in Gqeberha in the battle of the previously unbeaten teams in Group 2 of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023.
Renuka Singh was outstanding early for India, taking five for 15, as England found themselves in early trouble at 29 for three.
However, Nat Sciver-Brunt made 50, with Amy Jones (40) and Heather Knight (28), helping England fight back to make 151 for seven.
Smriti Mandhana played the anchor role in India’s reply, making 52, but England’s spinners put on the squeeze as the required rate soared.
With this win, England are all but assured a place in the semi-final, with a final clash to come against Pakistan, while India will have to bounce back in their final group match against Ireland.
India won the toss and put England in to bat, with Singh making an immediate impact. She took a wicket in each of her first three overs, having Danni Wyatt caught behind for a first-ball duck, with Alice Capsey (3) and Sophia Dunkley (10) both bowled as England slumped to 29 for three.
Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight then started to rebuild, adding 51 before the captain smashed a full toss to Shafali Verma off the bowling of Shikha Pandey to depart for 28.
Another 40 runs were added by Nat Sciver-Brunt and Amy Jones, before the former miscued a shot off Deepti Sharma straight after reaching her half-century.
England had a platform to attack though, and Jones and Sophie Ecclestone both struck maximums off Sharma’s final over, the 19th of the innings.
But it was Singh who had the final say, taking two wickets to bring up a five-wicket haul off the final over as England finished one 151 for seven.
In reply, India got off to a good start, Mandhana cracking four boundaries from Katherine Sciver-Brunt’s second over.
An opening stand of 29 was broken when Shafali Verma (8) got a leading edge off the bowling of Lauren Bell.
England then turned to their spinners, with Sarah Glenn removing Jemimah Rodrigues (13) and Ecclestone then chipping in with the wicket of skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (4) as India slipped to 62 for three.
India were struggling to find the boundaries but the introduction of Nat Sciver-Brunt made a difference, as Richa Ghosh hit back-to-back fours, the latter thanks to a Capsey misfield to leave India needing 77 from eight overs.
Mandhana followed suit the next over and the pair combined to put on 43. But just after the opener had hit Glenn over cover for six, she tried another big shot and picked out Nat Sciver-Brunt on the boundary to depart for 52.
That left India with 47 to get from 24 deliveries, having lost their most destructive batter. Ghosh kept going, including smashing one huge six off Bell, but there was a mountain to climb, with Sharma run out for seven after good work by Nat Sciver-Brunt in the outfield.
With 31 to get off the final over, the job was effectively done for England, although Ghosh had a good go, having not faced as many deliveries as she needed to in the closing overs.
Scores in brief
England beat India at St George’s Park, Gqeberha by 11 runs
England 151 for seven in 20 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 50, Amy Jones 40; Renuka Singh 5/15, Shikha Pandey 1/20)
India 140 for five in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 52, Richa Ghosh 47 not out; Sarah Glenn 2/27, Sophie Ecclestone 1/14)
Player of the Match: Nat Sciver-Brunt (England)
