England all-rounder Freya Kemp's explosive 39 off 13 balls and a two-wicket haul powered the hosts to a comprehensive 26-run victory, levelling the three-match T20I series at 1-1.

Kemp's Cameo Changes the Game

Bristol witnessed one of those innings that swings a match entirely in the space of 18 deliveries. England were sitting at 116 for 4 in the 17th over — competitive, but not quite imposing. Then Freya Kemp walked in.

What followed was a short, brutal assault. The young all-rounder took apart Arundhati Reddy's final over with a six, two fours and another maximum on the last ball, finishing unbeaten on 39 off just 13 balls at a strike rate of 300. England's total jumped to 168 for 5, a score that would prove just beyond India's reach.

Slow Start, Steady Middle, Explosive Finish

England's innings had been anything but fluent in the early stages. Their powerplay yielded only 35 for 1, with India's left-arm spinner N. Sri Charani tying down the batters effectively in the middle overs.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge made 36 before Sri Charani had her caught by Smriti Mandhana at the boundary. Amy Jones followed shortly after, pouched by Harmanpreet Kaur. England captain Heather Knight, who has now scored 19, 25, 18, 21 and 18 in her last five T20 innings, added 18 before offering a soft return catch to Sri Charani — a worrying run of modest scores for the home side's skipper.

Dani Gibson chipped in with useful support during Kemp's blitz, the pair adding 14 off a Nandini Sharma over to help accelerate the innings in its closing stages. Sri Charani finished with 3 for 25 from 4 overs — easily the pick of the Indian bowlers.

India's Chase Falters Early

Chasing 169, India needed a strong platform. They didn't get one. Shafali Verma, usually dangerous at the top, was caught at cover off Lauren Bell in the third over. Smriti Mandhana came and went, caught by Alice Capsey off Kemp's bowling.

Yastika Bhatia provided some resistance and top-scored for India with 33, though her 36-ball knock meant the required rate kept climbing. England dropped her twice — Sophie Ecclestone spilled a low chance and Charlie Dean put her down off her own bowling when Bhatia was on 29 — but the extra lives couldn't alter the outcome. Under mounting pressure, Bhatia eventually chose to retire out, leaving India needing 60 from the last five overs.

Death Overs Seal India's Fate

Jemimah Rodrigues arrived at the crease with the equation still just about alive, but Kemp, operating with the ball now, removed her second ball — caught at cover. Charlie Dean then delivered the knockout blow in a single over, dismissing Richa Ghosh and Harmanpreet Kaur in quick succession.

India needed 39 off the last 12 balls. The lower order couldn't come close. Final score: 142 for 9.

Dean took 2 for 20 from 4 overs, while Bell and Kemp claimed 2 wickets each. Kemp's match figures — 39 not out and 2 for 15 — made her the obvious choice as player of the match.

Series Heads to Taunton

India, who had won the opening T20I, now go into Tuesday's decider at Taunton level at 1-1. The third and final match will determine the series winner, and both sides will be aware of the margins involved — India were never truly out of this chase until the 16th over. A repeat of Sri Charani's accuracy with the ball, and a more disciplined batting effort in the death, could well swing things back in the visitors' favour.

Half-centuries from Jemimah Rodrigues and Yastika Bhatia, followed by debutant Nandani Sharma’s clinical spell, seal a commanding 38-run win for India women's team in Chelmsford.

A revamped Indian middle order stepped up under pressure as the India women's team registered an emphatic 38-run victory over England in the first T20I at the County Ground on Thursday. Guided by stand-in captain Smriti Mandhana in the absence of the rested Harmanpreet Kaur, India successfully defended a robust 188 to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

The match served as a perfect World Cup rehearsal for both units, exposing England's ground fielding vulnerabilities while validating India's tactical tactical shifts in their batting blueprint.

Early Disasters At The Top

Choosing to bowl first in sweltering conditions, England's pace spearhead Lauren Bell handed India a nightmare start. Bell struck with her very first delivery, removing Mandhana for a golden duck, before dismissing a tentative Shafali Verma (2) later in the same over.

With the scoreboard reading a precarious 7 for 2, India looked desperate for a stabilizing partnership.

The Decisive Counterattack

What followed was a batting masterclass from Yastika Bhatia and Jemimah Rodrigues, who completely shifted the momentum with a blistering 126-run partnership off just 76 deliveries. Returning to the T20I setup after a lengthy injury layoff, Bhatia showed no signs of rust. She took a particular liking to Issy Wong’s bowling, tearing through a 27-run over that disrupted England's bowling lengths.

Bhatia reached her half-century in 31 balls, eventually departing for a well-made 54 off 40 deliveries, laced with nine boundaries and a six.

At the other end, Rodrigues assumed the aggressor's role with surgical precision. She smashed a brilliant 69 off 40 balls, employing square cuts and sweeps to manipulate the field.

"Losing two wickets in the first over is never ideal, but the way Yastika and Jemi counterattacked was exceptional," stand-in skipper Smriti Mandhana said after the match. "They kept playing positive shots and refused to let England dictate terms."

Mid-Innings Collapse And Recovery

England clawed their way back into the contest via a brief Indian batting collapse. Immediately after Bhatia was run out by a sharp throw from Tilly Corteen-Coleman, Charlie Dean caught Rodrigues off her own bowling.

India slipped from a comfortable 133 for 2 to a nervous 148 for 6 within 16 balls, as Richa Ghosh and Bharti Fulmali fell cheaply. However, a crucial late-overs cameo from Deepti Sharma (22 off 13 balls) pushed India’s total to a formidable 188 for 7.

England Fall Apart In Chase

Chasing 189, England’s response got off to a bumpy start. Seamer Kranti Gaud struck early, removing dangerous openers Sophia Dunkley and Alice Capsey within the first four overs. Wicketkeeper-batter Amy Jones played a lone hand, anchoring the chase with a fighting 67 off 48 balls. Jones found brief support from veteran Heather Knight, who marked her milestone 310th international appearance with a brief 21.

However, the required run rate climbed past 15 an over, putting immense pressure on the host's lower-middle order.

Dream Debut For Sharma

The final blow came from debutant all-rounder Nandani Sharma. Brought back into the attack during the death overs, Sharma turned the game completely in India’s favor by picking three wickets in a single over.

She first removed the dangerous Amy Jones, followed by Dani Gibson on the very next ball. Though she missed out on a hat-trick, Sharma cleaned up Issy Wong two balls later to finish with superb figures of 3 for 34, restricting England to 150 for 8.

With the series opener sealed in style, the India women's team will look to wrap up the assignment when they face England in the second T20I at Bristol on Saturday.

Anushka Sharma Named Captain of India-A Women's T20 Side for England Tour

Gwalior's rising cricket star to lead India-A in three T20 matches against England-A; has previously led Madhya Pradesh to senior ODI Trophy glory

A Big Leap for Gwalior's Own
Anushka Sharma, the all-rounder from Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, has been handed one of the most significant assignments of her young career. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has named her captain of the India-A women's T20 side for the upcoming England tour, where she will lead the team in a three-match series against England-A.
The announcement, made recently, has been widely seen as a reward for consistent domestic performances and her growing reputation as a match-winner in multiple formats.

Series Schedule and Venues
The three T20 matches are scheduled across two English venues. The first two games will be held in Northampton on June 20 and June 23, while the third and final match moves to Chelmsford on June 25.
A separate ODI series, running from June 28 to July 4 at Hove and Taunton, will be led by Harleen Deol, with Pratika Rawal named as her deputy. Vrinda Dinesh has been appointed vice-captain for the T20 leg under Anushka.

"Will Give My Best," Says Anushka
Speaking about the opportunity, Anushka Sharma kept it simple and grounded. "Playing for the country is every cricketer's dream. Leading the team as captain is a matter of great pride for me. I will try my best to give everything for my team," she said.

Senior Debut Already Under Her Belt
Anushka made her senior India debut during the South Africa tour, where she featured in three matches and showed enough to convince selectors of her readiness for bigger responsibilities. Her ability to contribute with both bat and ball has made her a versatile asset in Indian women's cricket.
Earlier in the Women's Premier League 2026, she turned heads playing for Gujarat Giants — scoring 44 runs off just 30 balls in a high-pressure outing, underlining the aggressive batting that has become her signature.

Decorated Domestic Record
Before the India-A captaincy came calling, Anushka had already built an impressive resume at the domestic level. She has served as vice-captain of the Madhya Pradesh senior women's team and previously captained the India B side in the Under-19 Challenger Trophy. Under her leadership, Madhya Pradesh's U-19 team finished national runners-up.
Her most celebrated achievement remains the 2024-25 Senior Women's ODI Trophy, where she played a key role in MP's title-winning campaign. She walked away from the tournament with the Player of the Tournament award along with several other individual honours that season.
The Chandra Nayudu Award, given to recognise outstanding domestic women cricketers, is also among her recognitions.

Bundlekhand Bulls Back Her Too
Closer to home, Anushka was retained as captain of Bundlekhand Bulls for the second season of the Madhya Pradesh Women's League, to be held in Indore. In the first edition, she was vice-captain and played a crucial part in the team's title win. Her elevation to full captaincy for the second season reflects the confidence the franchise places in her leadership abilities.

What Comes Next
With the T20 World Cup 2026 scheduled in England from June 12 — India opening their campaign against Pakistan on June 14 — the India-A tour serves as important preparation ground. Players performing well in these matches could catch the selectors' eye for future senior assignments.
For Anushka Sharma, the England tour is not just another series. It is the clearest signal yet that Indian women's cricket sees a future leader in her.

India’s star opener Smriti Mandhana has etched her name in cricket history by surpassing Rohit Sharma’s long-standing T20 International record. The achievement came during the opening match of the India Women vs South Africa Women T20I series in Durban.

India Women Face Defeat in High-Scoring Encounter

The first T20I of the series was played at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban, where South Africa Women defeated India Women by 6 wickets. Batting first after losing the toss, India managed to post 157 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. Despite a competitive total, the target was chased down by the hosts in 19.1 overs.

Mandhana’s Early Dismissal and Historic Milestone

Smriti Mandhana had a brief outing in the match, scoring just 13 runs before getting dismissed. However, the innings proved historic in a bigger context. With those runs added to her career tally, Mandhana moved ahead of Rohit Sharma to become India’s highest run-scorer in T20 Internationals across both men’s and women’s cricket.

Surpassing Rohit Sharma’s Legacy

Rohit Sharma, who retired from T20Is after winning the 2024 T20 World Cup, had accumulated 4231 runs in 159 matches. His record stood as the highest for India in the format until Mandhana overtook it. The left-handed batter now has 4244 runs in 161 matches, making her India’s leading run scorer in T20 Internationals.

Top Women’s T20I Run-Scorers List

In women’s T20 International cricket, New Zealand’s Suzie Bates remains at the top with 4717 runs. Smriti Mandhana now holds the second position with 4244 runs, followed by India’s Harmanpreet Kaur with 3869 runs. Sri Lanka’s Chamari Athapaththu and New Zealand’s Sophie Devine also feature among the top five batters.

Match Overview: India vs South Africa

India’s innings saw contributions from Shafali Verma with a quick 34 and Jemimah Rodrigues scoring 36. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur anchored the innings with an unbeaten 47. In response, South Africa were led by captain Laura Wolvaardt, who scored 51 runs, while Anneke Bosch contributed 44 to guide the team to victory. South Africa now leads the series 1-0.

Second T20I to Decide Momentum

The second T20 International between India and South Africa will be played at the same venue on April 19. India will look to bounce back and level the series, while South Africa aim to continue their winning momentum.

In a bid to bounce back from their first ODI loss, India Women put up a fighting total of 251/9 in the second match of the three-game series against Australia. Opener Pratika Rawal and captain Harmanpreet Kaur smashed crucial half centuries, giving their team a strong platform on a tricky pitch.

India won the toss and elected to bat first at the iconic venue in Australia. What started as a shaky innings turned into a gritty recovery, thanks to the senior pros stepping up. This performance matters right now as the series hangs in balance—Australia leads 1-0, and a win here for the visitors could spark a comeback in women's cricket's high-stakes rivalry.

Pratika Rawal Harmanpreet Kaur Half Centuries Steal the Show

Pratika Rawal, the young opener, anchored the top order with a composed 52 off 78 balls, including elegant drives and quick singles. Her partnership with Smriti Mandhana (31) laid the foundation before early wickets fell.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur then took charge, blasting 51 off 62 deliveries with her signature power-hitting. The duo's half centuries revived India from 100/4 to a defendable 251/9. "We needed this momentum," Harmanpreet said post-innings, emphasizing team resilience.

Key contributions came from:

• Richa Ghosh: Quickfire 22 with boundaries.
  
  

• Kashvee Gautam: Handy 25 in the middle order.
  
  

• Deepti Sharma: Struggled with just 1 run, but her all-round skills could shine later.
  
  

This total reflects India's growing depth in ODIs, especially after recent T20 successes.

Australia Bowlers Fight Back: Ashleigh Gardner Wickets Lead Restriction

Australia's bowlers hit back hard despite the runs. Spinner Ashleigh Gardner grabbed 2 wickets, including a vital top-order scalp. Leg-spinner Alana King and pacer Annabel Sutherland also claimed 2 wickets each, breaking partnerships at crucial junctures.

Gardner's crafty variations and Sutherland's pace troubled the lower order, restricting India under 260. Australia now chase 252 to seal a 2-0 series lead on home soil—a massive boost ahead of the World Cup cycle.

Why This Matters for India Women vs Australia 2nd ODI Fans

With bilateral series heating up global women's cricket, this match highlights India's batting maturity. Pratika Rawal's emergence adds excitement for young talents, while Harmanpreet Kaur's leadership inspires. Australia eyes dominance, but India's bowlers—led by Deepti and Shree Charani—could turn the chase.

Tune in as Australia bats. Will they chase it down, or will India defend? A series-leveler would electrify fans back home.

Stay updated with Dainik Jagran for live scores, player stats, and expert analysis on India Women vs Australia 2nd ODI.