India’s vice-captain Smriti Mandhana credited her team’s bowling and fielding for their historic T20I series win over England. On Wednesday, the Women in Blue won the fourth T20I at Old Trafford by six wickets to lead the five-match series 3-1.
The visitors won their first T20I series in England with one game left. Mandhana highlighted the team’s bowling and fielding execution.
“Our bowlers came back magnificently in all four matches, including the third T20. They limited England to 25 runs in the last 4-5 overs. Their fielding was apparent. Smriti Mandhana remarked in a BCCI website video that clarity and fielding were key.
Everyone looks considerably fitter: Smriti Mandhana
Radha Yadav and Shree Charani shared four wickets to reduce England to 126/7. The second Indian woman after Jhulan Goswami to take 300 international wickets, Deepti Sharma overtook Pakistan’s Nida Dar as the leading women’s T20I spinner. The squad’s fitness discipline was noted by Smriti Mandhana.
“Everyone looks fitter now. A lot of credit goes to them. I think they were under a lot of pressure entering the series, but their bowling here makes me happy. Everyone was excited. Ready to go, everyone. Just waiting for the appropriate time. Sometimes you get the feeling that everyone’s tuned in. The desire in everyone’s eyes showed in our performance, she said.
Opening pair Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana scored 56 runs in seven overs to anchor India’s chase. Off Lauren Filer, Shafali hit three boundaries in one over. Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur led India home with 18 balls to spare after a middle-overs meltdown. Mandhana also said the players knew they might make history before the fourth match.
We talked in the huddle about making history by beating England in a T20I series on their home ground. Everyone’s performance was great. Amazing what these gals have done “said the southpaw.
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