India Eye Series Win in 4th T20I as Harmanpreet, Shafali Seek Batting Form
India aim to seal the women’s T20I series against England in Manchester, banking on Harmanpreet Kaur and Shafali Verma to fire.
India’s women’s cricket team, leading 2-1 in the five-match T20I series, will look to captain Harmanpreet Kaur and opener Shafali Verma to deliver big runs in the fourth T20I against England on Wednesday, aiming to clinch the series at Old Trafford.
India’s batting has leaned heavily on Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Amanjot Kaur, but Harmanpreet (1 and 23 in two games) and Shafali (47, 20, and 3) have struggled to convert starts. Shafali, back after an eight-month break, showed promise with a 25-ball 47 in the third T20I but fell short of a match-defining knock. Harmanpreet, sidelined for the opener due to a head injury, needs a strong showing to boost India’s momentum.
England’s five-run win at The Oval exposed India’s middle-order fragility, despite a solid bowling effort led by spinners N Shree Charani (8 wickets), Deepti Sharma (6), and pacer Arundhati Reddy (4). However, Radha Yadav and Amanjot Kaur, leaking 8.5 and 9 runs per over, must tighten up to curb England’s batters.
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England, desperate to level the series, rely on openers Sophia Dunkley and Danni Wyatt-Hodge, whose fifties powered their 171/9 in the last game. Their middle order crumbled, losing eight wickets for 34 runs, and their bowlers, barring Lauren Bell, need to step up against India’s seasoned lineup.
The match, starting at 11 pm IST, promises a thrilling contest as India aim to wrap up the series, while England fight to stay alive.
Teams (from):
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (WK), Yastika Bhatia (WK), Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, N Shree Charani, Shuchi Upadhyay, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare.
England: Tammy Beaumont (C), Em Arlott, Lauren Bell, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Lauren Filer, Amy Jones (WK), Paige Scholfield, Linsey Smith, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Issy Wong, Maia Bouchier.
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