India Women kicked off their tour of England with a resounding 97-run victory over England Women in the first T20I at Trent Bridge. The match was highlighted by a record-breaking century from India’s stand-in captain Smriti Mandhana and a sensational bowling performance by Shree Charani, showcasing India’s formidable all-round strength in this opening encounter of the five-match T20I series.

After England won the toss and elected to bowl, India posted a mammoth total of 210/5 in their 20 overs, largely thanks to Mandhana’s batting masterclass. Mandhana, leading the side in the absence of Harmanpreet Kaur, embraced the responsibility with remarkable flair. She unleashed a blistering 112 runs off just 62 balls, an innings adorned with a stunning 15 fours and 3 sixes. This historic knock not only marked her maiden T20I century but also made her the first Indian woman to score centuries across all three formats of international cricket – Tests, ODIs, and T20Is – a truly remarkable feat.

Mandhana’s innings was built on crucial partnerships that provided the necessary impetus to India’s total. She added a solid 77 runs for the opening wicket with Shafali Verma, who contributed a steady 20 runs off 22 balls. Following Verma’s dismissal, Mandhana forged an even more destructive 94-run stand with Harleen Deol, who played a brilliant supporting role with a quickfire 43 runs off 23 balls, including 7 boundaries. Towards the end of the innings, Richa Ghosh chipped in with a brisk 12 runs off just 6 balls, ensuring India reached a daunting and imposing total that would prove incredibly challenging for the hosts. For England, Lauren Bell was the standout bowler, claiming 3 wickets for 27 runs in her four overs. Emily Arlott and Sophie Ecclestone also managed to pick up a wicket each, but the overall bowling effort struggled to contain Mandhana’s brilliance.

Also WATCH: Smriti Mandhana hits maiden T20I century, scripts history in series opener against England

England’s batting collapse and India’s dominant bowling

Chasing a formidable 211 for victory, England’s innings never truly gained momentum, despite a valiant effort from their key all-rounder, Natalie Sciver. Sciver played a lone hand, top-scoring with 66 runs off 42 balls, which included 10 well-timed fours. However, she received little support from her teammates, as the rest of the batting lineup struggled to cope with India’s disciplined bowling. Openers Sophia Dunkley (7) and Danielle Wyatt (0) fell cheaply, setting a concerning tone early on. Tammy Beaumont (10), Amy Jones (1) and Alice Capsey (5) also failed to make significant contributions, and the middle order crumbled under the mounting pressure. Arlott provided a brief flicker of hope with 12 runs, including a six, but it was too little, too late. England were eventually bundled out for just 113 in 14.5 overs, falling short by a massive 97 runs.

The Indian bowlers were exceptional, executing their plans brilliantly and maintaining relentless pressure throughout England’s chase. The star of the show with the ball was undoubtedly debutant Charani. The left-arm orthodox spinner delivered a sensational spell, claiming an impressive 4 wickets for just 12 runs in 3.5 overs, rattling the English batting lineup and accelerating their collapse. Deepti Sharma also bowled effectively, picking up 2 wickets for 32 runs, while Radha Yadav contributed significantly with 2 wickets for just 15 runs in her two overs. Amanjot Kaur and Arundhati Reddy chipped in with a wicket each, completing a truly dominant bowling performance that sealed a comprehensive victory for India.

A comprehensive win for Team India
Scorecard: https://t.co/gZ5W4JajHZ#cricket #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/OpR80iOToh

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) June 28, 2025

Smriti Mandhana was deservingly awarded the Player of the Match for her magnificent and record-breaking century. India’s commanding 97-run victory sets a strong tone for the rest of the series. The teams will now look ahead to the second T20I, scheduled for Tuesday, July 1, at County Ground, Bristol.

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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.