India registered a comprehensive 95-run victory over the Netherlands in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup at Headingley on Wednesday, thanks to outstanding performances from Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, followed by a four-wicket haul from Shree Charani. Mandhana scored a fluent 74, while Shafali contributed 55 with the bat and took 3 wickets for 20 runs, setting up India's second consecutive win in the tournament.
India's commanding total
Opting to bat first under overcast conditions, India adapted quickly and posted 209 for 5 in 20 overs, their highest total in the competition, despite a late fightback from the tournament debutants. The opening pair of Shafali and Mandhana laid a solid foundation with a 115-run partnership off 71 balls, combining power and timing.
Shafali, who managed only six runs against Pakistan earlier, made a strong comeback. She showed intent from the start, punished loose deliveries, and reached her half-century in 34 balls. Her innings of 55 off 38 balls included 10 fours before she was caught at long-on off Heather Siegers in the 12th over.
Mandhana looked in complete control at the other end, comfortable against both pace and spin. She brought up her second successive half-century of the tournament, scoring 74 off 47 balls with 11 fours and a six. Jemimah Rodrigues kept the momentum going with a brisk 23 off 14 balls, adding 47 runs with Mandhana. However, Caroline de Lange triggered a mini-collapse as India slipped from 162 for 1 to 169 for 4.
Richa Ghosh's unbeaten 20, aided by a couple of reprieves, along with late hits from Harmanpreet Kaur and Deepti Sharma, powered India past the 200-run mark.
Netherlands' chase falls short
In reply, the Netherlands started brightly through Heather Siegers and Phebe Molkenboer, but Nandani Sharma provided the breakthrough, having Siegers caught by Mandhana for 21. India suffered a setback when off-spinner Shreyanka Patil twisted her ankle after bowling just one delivery and had to be taken off the field.
The Dutch reached 50 for 2 after 7.3 overs and 77 for 3 in the 12th over, but India's spinners tightened their grip. Shafali removed Sterre Kalis, while Nandani and Deepti chipped in with key wickets. Shree Charani then ran through the lower order, finishing with 4 for 19, as the Netherlands were bowled out for 114 in 17.3 overs.
Babette de Leede top-scored for the Netherlands with 28, but the chase never gained enough momentum against India's varied spin attack.
Brief scores
India 209 for 5 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 74, Shafali Verma 55; Caroline de Lange 2 for 33) beat Netherlands 114 all out in 17.3 overs (Babette de Leede 28; Shree Charani 4 for 19, Shafali Verma 3 for 20, Nandani Sharma 2 for 22) by 95 runs.
