India secured a T20 series victory over England with a convincing six-wicket win at Old Trafford on Wednesday. The defeat leaves England trailing 3-1 in the five-match series, with the final game scheduled for Saturday at Edgbaston.
England, after winning the toss and electing to bat, struggled to build momentum and posted a total of 126 for seven. A late surge in the final over, which saw Sophie Ecclestone and Issy Wong hit sixes, added some valuable runs to the total. However, the score proved insufficient against a determined Indian side.
The Indian openers, Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, came out aggressively, smashing nine boundaries in the first four overs. This explosive start provided a solid foundation for India's chase, making the task of defending the low score even more difficult for England.
Danni Wyatt-Hodge was caught by Arundhati Reddy for five, and Sophia Dunkley, who top-scored for England with 22, was caught by Radha Yadav. Tammy Beaumont scored 20 before falling to Reddy, and Alice Capsey was trapped lbw by Charani for 18.
India's bowlers, particularly the spinners N Shree Charani and Deepti Sharma, played a crucial role in stifling the English batting lineup. Their disciplined bowling and sharp fielding restricted England's scoring opportunities and prevented them from establishing any significant partnerships.
This series loss marks a setback for Charlotte Edwards, whose tenure began with a successful run against the West Indies in both T20s and ODIs. After England's narrow five-run victory at the Oval, India bounced back strongly in Manchester, demonstrating their dominance with both bat and ball.
The final T20 international is scheduled for Saturday at Edgbaston. Following the T20 series, the two teams will compete in a three-match ODI series. The first ODI will be held on July 16 in Southampton.
