- By Namrata Vijay
- Sun, 13 Jul 2025 08:59 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
IND-W vs ENG-W 5th T20I: The Women in Blue did lose the fifth T20I by the slightest of margins but they had already clinched the series. After winning the series by 3-2 against England, the Women in Blue ended their campaign in the series with a last-ball thriller at Edgbaston.
While chasing a target of 168 runs, the hosts on the back of a match-winning knock of Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who was playing in her 300th international match, and a gritty knock of 41 runs by Sophia Dunkley helped them chase the target. The 101-run match-winning partnership for the first wicket had piled pressure on the visitors but they still fought back and ensured that the hosts didn't win this match easily.
Since the match went towards the last over and when the Tammy Baumont-led side needed just six runs to win the match, fast bowler Arundhati became the pick among the bowlers as she took two wickets during the first three balls. But then Sophie Ecclestone performed brilliantly under pressure situations and they needed just one run to win on the last ball and she thus took the team across the line.
Despite all this, it was the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side, who had dominated the match for the most part and especially Shafali Varma. Making a comeback to the shortest format, she had scored a gritty knock of 75 runs off 41 balls and it was an inning that showed clear intent. She came into bat at No.3 position during the first three overs and helped the team bounce back.
She smashed her half-century off just 23 balls and that was the second fastest as an Indian woman batter in the shortest format as she went all-guns-blazing during the middle overs. Although the team did suffer a batting collapse she maintained her composure and helped the team post a respectable target of 167 runs.
Charlie Dean was the pick among the English as she registered match-winning figures of 3/23 and also ended those partnerships. Ecclestone also took two wickets. The Indian batters except Shafali were seen struggling to convert their starts as none of the other batters could score more than 25 runs.
The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side fighting spirit had become the talking point of this series. From tight finishes to supporting the youngsters or backing the experienced players at important junctures, this series showed their growth and character.
The host might have won the last match but this win came after three consecutive losses and making some tough decisions.
