In an exciting warm-up ahead of the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup in Cardiff, England edged India by five runs The result may have gone Wembley way but both sides gained greatly from the experience ahead of the tournament.
England 171 to start After the opposition won the toss and chose to bat first. Although Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt had a 57 off 45 balls.”Batting tip-toeing through the middle overs!” England’s opener Amy Jones put together a fine innings of 64 from 45 to build England up well.
The presence of India’s spinners through the middle overs stymied run scoring as Shreyanka Patil took a brace. But it was England’s late finish that ultimately came through, with Dani Gibson hitting an explosive 30 not out from 12 balls followed by a six.
In such a low scoring game, India lost Smriti Mandhana early on for just one run. Apart from a few batters who got starts, none of them managed to turn it into something substantial and the team continued to languish behind the required rate.
Before Wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh responded with a blistering counterattack as the match seemed to have slipped from hand for India. Coming in at number 6, she played a fearless knock of 68 off just 36 deliveries with nine fours and two sixes. While her approach was aggressive, it brought India back into the match and an exciting end.
But, just as India stood in need of six runs from the last three balls, Richa was stumped in that final over. Linsey Smith scored figures of 3 for 42 and, although it was a nerve-wracking finish, she ensured that England took the final wicket.
The two teams now go to Birmingham where they start their respective tournaments on June 12, then India and Pakistan come together in Edgbaston on June 14.