India vs England Women's World T20 Semi-Final: England crush India's dream with 8-wicket victory

In reply to India's below-par 112-run total, England won the match by 8 wickets and cruised to the finals

England women crushed India’s dream to enter the finals of the ongoing Women’s World T20 on Friday morning (IST) by defeating them by 8 wickets in the semis at Sir Vivian Richards cricket stadium in Antigua. Despite ending as the table toppers in the group stages, the Indian eves will be returning home heart-broken.

After a terrible batting collapse and three run-outs, Indian women toiled hard to pile up 112 runs on the board. Though the Antigua track was a bit slower, the English bowlers put all their efforts to overturn India’s decision of batting first. They needed 113 runs to win this crucial semi-final clash.

In return, England had a loose start. Right in the 2^nd over, Radha Yadav removed opener Tammy Beaumont (1) while a few overs later, spinner Deepti Sharma struck to send Danielle Wyatt back to the dressing room. The Englishwomen were reduced to 24 for 2 with 88 runs needed to win.

Wicketkeeper Amy Jones along with Natalie Sciver took the charge and then there was no looking back for the women in red. The duo got their respective half-centuries, scoring the left-over runs to guide their team to the finals with 8 wickets in hand.

Jones played a phenomenal innings of 51 runs off 42 balls including 3 fours and a six. Her batting partner Natalie was no less destructive and played a magnificent 54-run knock, smashing 5 boundaries. They stitched 92 runs for the 3^rd wicket.

Earlier, Indian women suffered a lower order collapse before being bowled out for a paltry 112 in their semi-final match against England at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium here on Friday.

Smriti Mandhana (34 off 23 balls; 4X5, 6X1) top-scored for India, getting the women-in-blue to a brisk 43-run start with stumper Taniya Bhatia (11) before young Jemimah Rodrigues came up with a run-a-ball 26 to solidify things.

India kept losing wickets in heaps with the next seven batters falling like nine pins and even failing to reach the double digits leaving the England women with just 113 to get and meet Australia in the final.

For the English women, skipper Heather Knight was the pick of the bowlers, returning 3/9 while Kirstie Gordon and Sophie Ecclestone contributed well by taking two wickets each.