Smriti Mandhana helps India easily overcome England in the T20s match

Chriss Moore September 14, 2022 4 min read 0

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Cricket player Smriti Shriniwas Mandhana represents India’s women’s national squad. She received the Best Women’s International Cricketer award from the Board of Control for Cricket within India (BCCI) in June 2018. 

In December 2018, the International Cricket Council presented her with the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Award for the best female cricketer of the year (ICC). She was nominated for the ICC Women’s T20 Player for the year on December 30, 2021. 

She, Lizelle Lee, Tammy Beaumont, plus Gaby Lewis were finalists for the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year award in December 2021. In January 2022, the ICC presented her with the Rachael Heyhoe-Flint Award for being the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year.

The match and the scores

India chased down their 143-run target in just 17 overs to win the second T20 encounter at Derby by an 8-wicket margin and tie the series with one game remaining.

Due to a stunning half-century from Freya Kemp, who was only 17 years old and also the youngest player to reach the milestone in T20 internationals, England recovered from slumping to 54 for 5 within the 10th over to post a sum of 142 for six.

However, India heavily punished the left-bowling, farmers as Shafali Verma (20 off 17) plus Smriti Mandhana pounded 19 runs off her one over on their way to a first-wicket partnership of 55 off 35 balls.

After the powerplay, Verma was caught as well as bowled by Sophie Ecclestone, while Mandhana pushed on to a half-century in just 36 balls. As India easily won the match, Harmanpreet Kaur, who was dropped by Danni Wyatt at deep midwicket on 20, cruised along to 29 not out from 22 balls.

The backlog

As per Harmanpreet, Radha Yadav’s shoulder injury, which she sustained on the field and hindered her from bowling, was among the reasons India lost the first T20. Yadav, however, did not appear particularly bothered. In the third over, she made a diving stop at thick extra cover to cease an Alice Capsey boundary while also leaving the batter run out as Yadav quickly return to Harmanpreet on the ring with the ball.

With a superb diving catch in the 8th over, Yadav sent Bryony Smith back to the pavilion and gave Sneha Rana the first of her three wickets. Kemp gave a brave performance, although England hadn’t really bounced back.

Kemp shines, but England’s lack of experience is evident

The 3 most seasoned and important players for England—captain Heather Knight, fast bowler Katherine Brunt, and vice-captain Nat Sciver, —are absent. They have expressed a desire to play more aggressively in Twenty20 cricket, which can result in bad days.

One of them was this. Soft dismissals occurred early on. Sophia Dunkley has tripped off Deepti Sharma, again falling victim to spin, prior Danni Wyatt was caught at slip as well as Alice Capsey was put out as a result of a misunderstanding with Bryony Smith.

Amy Jones, who served as the ship’s stand-in skipper, and Smith helped to steady the vessel before both fell swiftly. Freya Kemp as well as Maia Bouchier, who scored an international career-best 34, then helped to pull the boat near a respectable total.

Kemp took advantage of everything that came in her way, smashing three massive sixes plus three fours, but India swiftly and successfully learned how to tie her down with certain wide bowling once she sped to 24 off 12 balls.

With several careless misfields, England was less precise than they normally are on the field. Danni Wyatt dumping Harmanpreet Kaur on 19 was the epitome of this.

While Capsey began with five wides, Kemp also began with a no-ball, scoring four on both the first delivery as well as the free hit.

There were a few hopeful signs. Freya Davies struck Dayalan Hemalatha with a magnificent ball that hit the top of off stump, and Lauren Bell finished with figures of 0-23 after going for 14 in her initial two overs.

Conclusion

India won 146-2 to England’s 142-6. By 8 wickets, India triumphs. Despite Freya Kemp’s 50, India draws the three-game series even. Smriti Mandhana helps India easily overcome England as in T20s.