On this day in 2020: India Women defeat England in last-over thriller
The Indian women’s cricket team are arguably one of the best sides in T20Is as they have some star players including the likes of Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, etc. who are game-changers in this format. India have also made the knockouts of the previous two editions of the Women’s T20 World Cup (semifinals in 2018 and finalists in 2020) but have also showcased some great performances in an away bilateral series as well.
One of their remarkable performances in the shortest format had come on this very day in 2020 against England as the Indian eves snatched a final over thriller in the very first match of the tri-series that had preceded the Women’s T20 World Cup.
Harmanpreet Kaur leads from the front as Indian eves register final over thriller
India and England had locked horns at Canberra’s Manuka Oval. The coin landed in Harmanpreet Kaur’s side and the Women in Blue decided to chase. The Indian bowlers were very effective with the new ball and they removed the English top-order in no time by reducing them to 59-4 in the 10th over.
With the former T20 world champions in a spot of bother, skipper Heather Knight took matters into her own hands and went on to score a quickfire 44-ball 67 and a vital 27-ball 37 from Tammy Beaumont lower down the order propelled England to a fighting total of 147/7 from their 20 overs.
In reply, young opener Shafali Verma started attacking right from the word go and her 30 runs helped India in surpassing 50 in the Powerplay overs before she was dismissed in the eighth over and once Jemimah Rodrigues walked back at 82/3, Indian T20I skipper Harmanpreet Kaur held the innings from one hand and brought her team closer to the target even though wickets kept falling from the other end.
Kaur held her nerves in the death overs and the match was evenly poised with India needing six from the deciding over. Veteran Katherine Brunt did manage to keep the batters down to just two runs off the first two deliveries but, was struck for a huge six towards deep extra cover by the Indian captain off the third ball as the Women in Blue got past the finish line by five wickets and three deliveries to spare. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur remained unbeaten on 42 off 34 deliveries.
