INDIA WOMEN’S TOUR OF ENGLAND 2025
Danni Wyatt-Hodge stroked a 37-ball 56 © Getty
A thrilling final over at Edgbaston saw England scrape past India by five wickets in a consolation win. It was England’s highest successful T20I chase at home but India claimed the five-match series 3-2.
Chasing 168, the hosts found themselves needing six runs in the last over. Arundhati Reddy bowled a superb first three balls, dismissing Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones while conceding only one run but Sophie Ecclestone and Paige Scholfield held their nerve to take England over the line, sealing the win off the last ball despite a close run-out chance at the non-striker’s end.
The foundation for England’s chase was laid by a 101-run opening stand between Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Sophia Dunkley. Wyatt-Hodge, playing her 300th international match, top-scored with 56 off 37 and was aggressive from the start. Dunkley supported her well with 46 off 30 as the pair made full use of the powerplay, racking up 57 in the first six.
Radha Yadav broke the partnership in the 11th over, cleaning up Dunkley and that started a mini-collapse. Deepti Sharma removed Wyatt-Hodge and Maia Bouchier in quick succession and suddenly England were 139 for 3. Captain Beaumont brought some calm with her counter-attacking 30 off 20 balls but Reddy’s dramatic final over accounted for her first-ball. Radha then took a spectacular diving catch to dismiss Jones and England still needed five runs from three balls. Ecclestone then sliced a ball over short third for three runs, Scholfield tapped one into the off side and finally England squeezed a single to seal the win.
Earlier, Shafali Verma lit up the first innings with a blistering 75 off 41 balls, scoring 13 fours and a six. Despite losing Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues early, Shafali powered India to 94 for 3 at the halfway mark but England’s spinners were able to put in the squeeze. Charlie Dean led the way with 3 for 23, including the key wickets of Shafali and Harmanpreet Kaur. Ecclestone picked up two, including the dangerous Richa Ghosh in the 19th over as India finished on 167 for 7, thanks to useful contributions from Ghosh, Radha and Arundhati in the final overs.
Brief Scores: India 167/7 in 20 overs (Shafali Verma 75; Charlie Dean 3-23) lost to England 168/5 in 20 overs (Danni Wyatt-Hodge 56; Deepti Sharma 2-31) by 5 wickets
© Cricbuzz
