The Indian women's cricket team is set to face England in the second T20 International of their five-match series today, July 1st, at the County Ground in Bristol. India currently leads the series after a dominant 97-run victory in the first match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.
In the first T20I, India showcased a commanding performance, powered by Smriti Mandhana's maiden T20I century. Mandhana's brilliant knock of 112 runs off 62 balls, including 15 fours and three sixes, earned her the Player of the Match award and set the foundation for India's formidable total of 210/5. Harleen Deol contributed a valuable 43 runs from 23 balls, propelling India to their second-highest total in women's T20s. Shafali Verma also provided a good start with a 20-run contribution.
England, in response, struggled against the Indian bowling attack and were bowled out for just 113 in 14.5 overs. Nat Sciver-Brunt was the lone warrior for England, scoring 66 off 42 balls. However, she found little support from the other batters, as the Indian bowlers maintained consistent pressure. Shree Charani, making her T20I debut, impressed with a four-wicket haul, while Deepti Sharma and Radha Yadav took two wickets each. Charani's outstanding performance helped India secure their biggest win over England in women's T20s.
Looking ahead to the second T20I, India will aim to capitalize on their momentum and Mandhana's excellent form. The team will also hope for the availability of captain Harmanpreet Kaur. Meanwhile, England will be looking to bounce back from their heavy defeat and level the series.
The pitch at the County Ground in Bristol is expected to favor bowlers, potentially making it challenging for batters. In the last six matches at this venue, the 150-run mark has been crossed only once. The average first innings score is 138, while the average second innings score is 126, suggesting that chasing could be difficult as the pitch slows down. The team winning the toss may prefer to bowl first. Broken cloud cover is expected, which could benefit swing bowlers in the early overs.
Considering the head-to-head record, England Women have historically dominated India Women in T20Is, winning 22 out of 32 matches. However, India has won two of the last five encounters.
Both teams have strong players to watch out for. For England, Natalie Sciver-Brunt is a key player known for her impactful performances. For India, Smriti Mandhana will be crucial at the top of the order, and Shree Charani after her impressive debut.
The match is scheduled to begin at 11:00 PM IST.
