Women's T20 World Cup: Smriti Mandhana's half-century in vain as India lose to England by 11 runs

India`s Jemimah Rodrigues (R) and India`s Smriti Mandhana (L) talk between overs during the Group B T20 women`s World Cup cricket match between England and India at St George`s Park in Gqeberha on February 18, 2023 (Pic Courtesy: AFP)

India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana's half-century (52 off 41 balls) and an entertaining 34-ball 47 from Richa Ghosh went in vain as India lost their ICC Women's T20 World Cup group match to England by 11 runs here on Saturday.

The cheap dismissals of opener Shafali Verma (8), Jemimah Rodrigues (13) and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (4) contributed to the defeat as India could never recover from the top-order collapse.

Also Read: India Women eye elusive ICC title, open T20 World Cup campaign against arch-rivals Pakistan

Earlier, India had restricted England to 151 for seven with medium pacer Renuka Singh (5/15) registering her best bowling figures in the format after India opted to bowl. Her five-wicket haul gave India hope that they could defeat the Heather Knight-led side, but Sarah Glenn (2/27 in 4 overs) and Sophie Ecclestone's (1/11 in 3 overs) restrictive bowling didn't allow Indian batters play their strokes freely.

Finally a winning total of 152 proved too much for India.

Brief Scores:

England: 151 for 7 in 20 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 50; Renuka Singh 5/15) beat India (Smriti Mandhana 52, Richa Ghosh 47 not out; Sarah Glenn 2/27, Sophie Ecclestone 1/14)

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