Nottingham, June 28, 2025. On Saturday, India’s women’s cricket team made history by beating England by 97 runs in the first T20I of their five-match series at Trent Bridge. The standout moment of the match was Smriti Mandhana’s amazing century, which helped India achieve their second straight T20I score of over 200 and their most significant victory against England in this format.
| Player | Performance | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Smriti Mandhana | 112 (62) | First Indian with T20I, ODI, Test centuries |
| Harleen Deol | 43 (23) | Kept momentum post-powerplay |
| Shafali Verma | 20 (22) | 77-run opening stand |
| Shree Charani | 4/12 (3 overs) | 2nd-best Indian debut T20I figures |
| Deepti Sharma | 2/32 | Controlled middle overs |
| Radha Yadav | 2/15 | Removed middle-order batters |
| Nat Sciver-Brunt | 66 (42) | Lone England resistance |
- India scored 210/5, their highest T20 total abroad
- Smriti Mandhana smashed a 112-run knock, setting multiple records
- Shree Charani took four wickets on debut
- India beat England by 97 runs, their biggest T20I win vs England
- Mandhana-Verma pair now has the most 50+ stands in Women’s T20Is
“Special Day for Indian Cricket” Mandhana’s Ton Makes History
With regular captain Harmanpreet Kaur resting because of a head injury from a warm-up match, Smriti Mandhana stepped up as the stand-in captain. She played an excellent innings, scoring 112 runs off just 62 balls. This made her the first Indian woman to hit centuries in all three formats: Tests, ODIs, and T20Is.
Mandhana hit 16 fours and three sixes during her innings, which helped India score 210/5. This is their highest score when playing away from home and the second-best total in T20Is overall.
“It’s a special day not just for me, but for Indian cricket,” said Mandhana. “We wanted to start the series strong, and everyone stepped up. Harleen’s cameo gave us momentum, and our bowlers did the rest.”
Shafali Verma (20) started the game, and Mandhana helped build a strong base with a partnership of 77 runs. Harleen Deol, batting at No. 3, added a quick 43 runs from 23 balls, keeping the energy up in the middle overs when India scored an impressive 124 runs between overs 7 and 16.
In response, England got bowled out for 113 runs in just 14.5 overs. The only player who fought back was Nat Sciver-Brunt, who scored a tough 66, but it still wasn’t enough to beat India’s strong bowling.
Making her T20I debut, 20-year-old Shree Charani took four wickets for just 12 runs, while spinners Radha Yadav and Deepti Sharma each took two wickets.
“The bowlers executed our plans perfectly,” said Indian coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar. “Especially the spinners, who adapted well to the conditions and the wind.”
On Saturday, India made history by being the first Full Member country to score over 200 runs in two consecutive Women’s T20Is, after their impressive 217/4 against the West Indies.
Mandhana also broke Harmanpreet Kaur’s former national T20I record of 103 runs and now has eight scores of over 50 against England, showcasing her exceptional abilities.
- England suffered their most significant loss in T20I history, losing by 93 runs to Australia in 2019.
- An Indian player, Mandhana, hit the most boundaries in a T20I innings, totaling 78.
- Mandhana and Verma now hold the record for the most partnerships scoring over 50 runs in T20Is, with 21, surpassing the Australian duo of Mooney and Healy.
With this victory, India is now ahead 1–0 in the five-match series. This win not only raises their confidence but also strengthens their reputation as a growing T20 team, particularly with the 2026 ICC Women’s World Cup approaching.
“This team is shaping into a world-beater,” said former captain Anjum Chopra. “Performances like these show that India is no longer just a contender; they are serious title challengers.”
The second T20I is scheduled for July 1, 2025, in Manchester. India’s big victory at Trent Bridge marks a significant shift in women’s T20 cricket. With new talents like Shree Charani emerging and well-known players like Mandhana leading the way, India appears poised to compete strongly in international tournaments. The main challenge now is to keep performing well.
As Mandhana wisely said, “We’ve started well, but the series isn’t over. Our goal is to win consistently, not just make headlines.”
