England women win T20 rubber in thrilling fashion

GUWAHATI: England clinched a one-run victory from the jaws of defeat in the third and final T20I in Guwahati on Saturday, overcoming a brisk half-century from skipper Smriti Mandhana to secure a 3-0 sweep in the three-match T20I series.

India’s spinners did a good job after a half-century opening stand from England to restrict the visitors to 119 for 6. With Mandhana’s half-century guiding India in the chase, the hosts appeared well on track for a consolation win. However, England pulled off a stunning comeback through Kate Cross, who helped her team to a narrow win when India needed only three in the final over.

India started well in the chase as Mandhana showcased her technical proficiency, unleashing pulls, cuts, clean strikes in the V and deft touches to find the ropes at regular intervals. Although she lost her opening partner Harleen Deol early in the innings, Mandhana ensured India did not lag behind in the first six overs and even made up for the slow outing of Jemima Rodrigues, who was eventually out leg-before to Linsey Smith for a 22-ball 11.

Concentrating on playing proper cricketing shots on a wicket that was on the slower side, Mandhana was able to manipulate the strike well and also cashed in on the loose deliveries as she registered her ninth T20I fifty to make up for her previous failures in the series. But she was too clever for her own good when she tried to run down a Laura Marsh delivery, only to chop it on to the stumps.

Deepti Sharma attempted a risky second and paid for it by getting run out for the second time in succession, and England also managed to sneak in a few quiet overs to put pressure on India. Raj scored two boundaries off Natalie Sciver in the 18th over and a four off Anya Shrubsole in the penultimate over.

Brief scores: England 119/6 in 20 overs (Tammy Beaumont 29; Anuja Patil 2-13, Harleen Deol 2-13) beat India 118/6 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 58, Mithali Raj 30*; Kate Cross 2-18) by 1 run.