England suffered a chastening pre-T20 World Cup defeat as they were completely outplayed by India in a 38-run loss in Chelmsford. Chasing 189 to win, England stuttered to 150-8 as questions remain around their batting line-up before the tournament begins in June.
Openers Alice Capsey and Sophia Dunkley fell cheaply before Amy Jones made a fluent 67 from 48 balls, but the run-rate climbed out of control as they collapsed from 120-3. The returns of Danni Wyatt-Hodge from maternity leave and Nat Sciver-Brunt from injury cannot come soon enough for England’s stuttering top order. Extras also proved a big difference, with England giving away 21 compared to India’s three.
Lauren Bell gave England the perfect start with two wickets in the first over, including star batter Smriti Mandhana from the first ball of the innings, before Shafali Verma fell for two. But Jemimah Rodrigues and Yastika Bhatia remained unflustered, taking 27 from the second over bowled by Issy Wong to kickstart their counter-attacking third-wicket stand of 126.
England’s standards in the field slipped again when under pressure, but stand-in skipper Charlie Dean led an encouraging fightback by removing both set batters in the 14th over. Bhatia was run out for 54 and Rodrigues was caught and bowled for 69 as India slipped from 133-2 to 148-6, including debutant Tilly Corteen-Coleman’s first T20 wicket as Richa Ghosh was superbly caught by Wong. But Deepti Sharma struck four boundaries in her 22 from 13 balls at the death to ensure India’s middle-overs brilliance was not in vain as they finished on 188-7.
Bhatia and Rodrigues were sublime in their fearless approach, targeting Sophie Ecclestone and both reaching half-centuries off 31 balls. Rodrigues played with her usual wristy effortlessness, while England struggled against the left-handed Bhatia, who was playing her first T20 since 2024. They reached 73-2 after the six-over powerplay — the highest powerplay score against England in T20s — and their aggression forced mistakes in the field. Dunkley, Corteen-Coleman and Bell all misfielded for boundaries, while Jones missed a stumping with Bhatia on 51.
There was plenty to admire in how Dean revived England, holding her nerve to assist Corteen-Coleman with Bhatia’s run out before taking a sharp caught-and-bowled to dismiss Rodrigues. Wong’s catch running backwards from cover off Ghosh’s reverse sweep was a standout moment, and Dean was proactive in bringing her seamer back into the attack.
Without Sciver-Brunt’s experience and calming presence, England’s batters look scrambled and they have little time to iron out the creases. Dunkley launched Kranti Gaud for an enormous six in the second over but was caught at mid-on two balls later trying to repeat the shot. Capsey also fell to Gaud for six and is expected to make way for Wyatt-Hodge as opener, while former captain Heather Knight’s middle-order form leaves a significant selection decision for head coach Charlotte Edwards.
The three-match series continues at Bristol on Saturday, where Wyatt-Hodge is in contention to feature for the first time this summer.
Source: England beaten by 38 runs as India expose top-order frailties in Chelmsford T20