India Women vs England Women, 5th T20I: England Clinch Thrilling Last-Ball Victory

The fifth and final T20I of the India Women’s tour of England, played at Edgbaston, Birmingham on July 12, 2025, was a pulsating encounter that ended with England Women securing a dramatic five-wicket victory off the final ball. Despite the loss, India Women claimed a historic 3-2 series win, marking their first-ever bilateral T20I series triumph against England on English soil. Shafali Verma’s explosive 75 and Charlie Dean’s match-defining 3/23 were the standout performances in a match that went down to the wire, showcasing the intensity and quality of women’s T20 cricket.

Coming into the fifth T20I, India had already sealed the series with an unassailable 3-1 lead, thanks to commanding victories in the first two matches at Trent Bridge (97 runs) and Bristol (24 runs), followed by a six-wicket win at Old Trafford in the fourth T20I. England, desperate to end the series on a high note after a five-run victory in the third T20I at The Oval, were buoyed by the return of key players and the leadership of stand-in captain Tammy Beaumont. The match also marked significant milestones, with Danni Wyatt-Hodge playing her 300th international match for England and Harmanpreet Kaur surpassing Mithali Raj as India’s most-capped women’s cricketer with her 334th international appearance.

England won the toss and elected to field, a decision influenced by Edgbaston’s pitch, which historically offers assistance to pacers early on and some turn for spinners later. India introduced debutant Kranti Goud, replacing the injured Shuchi Upadhyay, while England fielded a strong XI, including Sophie Ecclestone, Charlie Dean, and Maia Bouchier, who was recalled as injury cover for Nat Sciver-Brunt.

India’s innings got off to a shaky start after England opted to bowl. Smriti Mandhana, fresh off a record-breaking T20I century in the series opener, fell early to Em Arlott, caught by Amy Jones for a low score, followed by Jemimah Rodrigues, leaving India at 19/2 in the third over. Shafali Verma, however, turned the tide with an aggressive 75 off 41 balls, including 11 fours and a six. Her 11th T20I half-century, scored in just 23 balls, was the second-fastest by an Indian woman in the format, only behind Richa Ghosh’s 18-ball fifty against West Indies in 2024.

Shafali’s onslaught, particularly against England’s pacers, powered India to 100 by the 11th over. Her partnership with Harmanpreet Kaur (15 off 18) steadied the innings, but Charlie Dean’s introduction proved decisive. Dean dismissed Kaur and later trapped Deepti Sharma lbw, finishing with figures of 3/23. Maia Bouchier’s brilliant diving catch at cow corner to dismiss Shafali was a turning point, dimming India’s hopes of a 180-plus total. Late contributions from Richa Ghosh (20 off 14), Radha Yadav (14* off 14), and Arundhati Reddy (9* off 5) helped India post a competitive 167/7 in their 20 overs. Sophie Ecclestone supported Dean with 2/28, while England’s fielding, though improved, still showed lapses compared to India’s sharp display in the series.

Chasing 168, England’s openers Sophia Dunkley and Danni Wyatt-Hodge provided a blazing start, racing to 57/0 in the powerplay. Wyatt-Hodge, celebrating her milestone match, scored a brisk 56 off 37 balls, including her 21st T20I fifty in 32 deliveries. Dunkley complemented her with a fluent 46 off 30, and their 101-run opening stand in 10.4 overs put England firmly in control. India’s bowlers struggled to find breakthroughs early, with Radha Yadav finally dismissing Dunkley in the 11th over, castling her for 46.

The momentum shifted as India’s spinners, led by Deepti Sharma (2/31) and Arundhati Reddy (2/47), struck back. Wyatt-Hodge fell to Reddy, and England’s middle order wobbled, losing Maia Bouchier and Amy Jones in quick succession. With 30 runs needed off the last three overs, the match tilted towards a thrilling finish. Arundhati Reddy’s double-wicket 18th over, removing Paige Scholfield and another batter, left England needing six runs off the final over bowled by Radha Yadav.

The final over was a spectacle of nerves and skill. With six runs needed, India’s fielders smothered England’s batters with a tight ring, but Sophie Ecclestone, England’s No. 7, held her cool. Facing Radha Yadav, Ecclestone hacked a crucial boundary through backward point and scampered a single off the final ball, surviving a near run-out as Smriti Mandhana’s under-arm throw from mid-on missed the stumps by inches. England finished at 168/5, completing the highest successful women’s T20I run-chase at Edgbaston and clinching a consolation victory.

The match’s climax was marked by high drama, with X posts capturing the tension: one user noted, “Ecclestone was dead if that hit… but the ball skimmed past the stumps as Mandhana’s under-arm went just wide!” The victory was England’s first in a women’s T20I at Edgbaston without a Super Over, adding to the venue’s reputation for close finishes.

Key Performances and Milestones

• Shafali Verma (India): Her 75 off 41 balls, including 11 fours and a six, was the backbone of India’s 167/7. She finished the series as the second-highest run-scorer behind Smriti Mandhana.
• Charlie Dean (England): Named Player of the Match for her 3/23, Dean’s dismissals of Kaur, Sharma, and Verma were pivotal in restricting India.
• Danni Wyatt-Hodge (England): Her 56 off 37 in her 300th international match set up England’s chase, earning praise for her resilience after a lean series start.
• Sophie Ecclestone (England): Ecclestone’s composure in the final over, coupled with her 2/28 with the ball, was crucial. She also celebrated her 100th T20I match.
• Deepti Sharma (India): With 2/31, Sharma became the joint-second highest wicket-taker in women’s T20Is (144 wickets), surpassing Nida Dar.
• Shree Charani (India): The debutant earned Player of the Series for her 10 wickets across the series, showcasing her left-arm spin prowess.

Despite the loss, India’s 3-2 series victory was a landmark achievement, ending a drought against England in bilateral T20I series. Smriti Mandhana’s leadership in the first T20I, her record-breaking century, and the team’s fielding excellence—highlighted by Radha Yadav’s comments on their “next-level” fielding—were key to their success. Harmanpreet Kaur, reflecting on the series, emphasized the team’s preparation through WPL seasons and their ability to execute plans, marking the series as a stepping stone for the 2026 T20 World Cup, which England will host.

For England, the victory provided a morale boost after a series loss. Charlie Dean’s post-match comments highlighted the team’s strategy of bowling tight lines and exploiting Harmanpreet Kaur’s matchup against off-spin, while Tammy Beaumont praised the team’s fight despite early struggles. The absence of Nat Sciver-Brunt due to a groin injury was felt, but the emergence of players like Maia Bouchier and Charlie Dean signaled a bright future for England’s transitioning side.

The T20I series concluded India’s first leg of their 2025 England tour, with a three-match ODI series set to begin on July 16 at Southampton. India’s confidence, bolstered by their T20I success and players like Mandhana, Verma, and Charani, will be tested against an England side eager to regroup.