ENG-W vs IND-W:In a nail-biting finish at Bristol, England Women edged out India Women by 5 runs in the 3rd T20I to clinch the series 2-1. Chasing a target of 152, India looked in control with Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues anchoring the innings, but late wickets turned the tide. England’s bowlers held their nerve in the final overs, with Sophie Ecclestone delivering a match-defining spell. Earlier, England posted 151/7, thanks to a solid knock from Nat Sciver-Brunt. The thrilling encounter showcased top-class cricket, with England ultimately emerging victorious in a fiercely contested series finale.
ENG‑W vs IND‑W Highlights
England wins thriller to keep series alive
🗓 Match Overview
Date & Venue: July 4, 2025 – The Oval, London.
Match significance: 3rd T20I of a 5-match series; India led 2–0. England needed a win to stay alive.
👥 Captains & Key Decisions ( ENG-W vs IND-W)
England: Tammy Beaumont, standing in for injured skipper Nat Sciver‑Brunt (groin) en.wikipedia.org+10theguardian.com+10espn.com+10
India: Harmanpreet Kaur
Toss: England won and opted to bat first espn.co.uk+10espn.in+10en.wikipedia.org+10
🧱 England Innings (171/9)
England posted a competitive 171, thanks primarily to a record opening stand.
🌟 Opening onslaught
Sophia Dunkley: 75 off ~50 balls – powerful strokeplay to dismantle the Indian attack.
Danni Wyatt‑Hodge: Joined the blitz with 66; they added 137 for the first wicket.
This stand was pivotal, setting a strong platform reddit.comreddit.com+7theguardian.com+7theguardian.com+7.
⚠ Collapse & Recovery
England faltered, losing 9 wickets for just 34 runs post that stand theguardian.com.
Benchmark:
Danni fell attempting another big hit.
Sophia, too, departed putting England briefly in trouble.
Despite the hiccup, they finished with a defendable total—171/9 in 20 overs theguardian.com+2reddit.com+2reddit.com+2theguardian.com.
👩🏏 Top England performances ( ENG-W vs IND-W)
Sophia Dunkley: Player of the Match with 75, anchoring the innings marathi.indiatimes.com+15theguardian.com+15theguardian.com+15.
Danni Wyatt‑Hodge: A follow-up to her World Cup form, added crucial support theguardian.com+2en.wikipedia.org+2theguardian.com+2.
🎯 India Innings (166/5)
With 172 needed, India began confidently.
🏃 Explosive start
Shafali Verma raced to 47 off 25 balls before Sophie Ecclestone trapped her africa.espn.com+6espn.com+6reddit.com+6en.wikipedia.org+9theguardian.com+9espn.co.uk+9.
Smriti Mandhana followed with 56 off 49 balls, anchoring the chase as India reached ~85/1 espncricinfo.com+2espn.com+2timesofsports.com+2.
By mid-game, India were well-positioned with half the target achieved and only two wickets down.
⚖ Middle overs & late wobble
A combination of wickets from Ecclestone (for Mandhana) and Lauren Filer (key breakthrough) slowed India’s momentum theguardian.com.
Bangladesh pace bowler Filer’s 16th over proved decisive, breaking partnerships theguardian.com+1theguardian.com+1.
🧩 Final hurdle & finish
Needing 12 runs off the final over, Lauren Bell held her nerve.
Off the last ball: Harmanpreet Kaur couldn’t clear mid-off, falling short—and England sealed it by 5 runs africa.espn.com+15espn.co.uk+15espn.com+15.
👩🏏 Key Indian performances
Smriti Mandhana: Steady 56 kept India in the game theguardian.com+5espn.in+5navbharattimes.indiatimes.com+5.
Shafali Verma: Electric 47 at the top timesofsports.com+6theguardian.com+6espn.co.uk+6.
🎗 Bowling & Fielding Showdown
🏏 England’s bowlers
Sophie Ecclestone: 4 overs, 1/24. Crucial wicket of Shafali early and Mandhana late; economical 6 RPO .
Lauren Filer: 4 overs, 2/30, including Mandhana’s dismissal theguardian.com.
Lauren Bell: Held her nerve in the final over.
Charlie Dean: A stunning diving catch in the 19th to dismiss a set batter.
Fielding: Superb ground cover and tight lines prevented boundary-laden overs in the death.
🏏 India’s attack
Karachi-style spin: Good spells, but lacked breakthroughs at critical times.
🏆 Match Turning Points
Opening stand of 137 (Dunkley–Wyatt‑Hodge): Laid the groundwork.
Sophie Ecclestone’s wickets: Early and late impact, stemming India’s surge.
Filer’s 16th over & Bell’s last-over cameo: Controlled the run flow under crunch-time pressure.
Dean’s catch: Prevented India’s late win chance on the penultimate delivery.
🎉 Captaincy & Tactics
Tammy Beaumont (ENG)
Made bold calls in the field, with off-spinner Dean over left-armers when needed, succeeding beautifully theguardian.comespn.com+7theguardian.com+7theguardian.com+7.
Successfully marshaled bowling changes in a crunch situation, keeping pressure high.
Harmanpreet Kaur (IND)
Trusted Mandhana, Verma early on—worked for majority of chase.
Tried to balance calm and aggression, but misdirected choice on final ball sealed the fate.
📊 Stats Snapshot (ENG-W vs IND-W)
England
171/9 (20)
Dunkley 75, Wyatt‑Hodge 66
Ecclestone 1/24, Filer 2/30
India
166/5 (20)
Mandhana 56, Verma 47
Ecclestone 1/24, Filer 2/30
📅 Series Context & Reaction (ENG-W vs IND-W)
Series Moves to 2–1 in India’s favour — England fights back espn.com+1espn.com+1theguardian.com+6theguardian.com+6espn.com+6espn.com.
England’s morale boost: After two straight losses, this win denies India a series lead sweep.
England Captain Tammy Beaumont:
“It’s brilliant for the young side. We stuck to our plans. The crowd at The Oval gave us such a boost.”
India: “Frustrating to come so close,” said Harmanpreet—highlighting the tight margin and the final-ball heartbreak.
🌍 What’s Next (ENG-W vs IND-W)
4th T20I: Scheduled in Manchester; England now have momentum.
India: Eager to bounce back and regain control.
With two matches remaining, pressure and opportunity lie with both sides.
🧭 Broader Implications
England regained belief; young bowlers delivered under pressure.
India’s batting showed depth, but collapsed under death-over tension.
Middle game tactics—spin vs pace and death-over strategies—will shape upcoming games.
🎯 Match Highlights Video (ENG-W vs IND-W)
Watch the key moments—power hits, turning points, finish—in this highlight reel from ESPN: ENG Women vs India Women 3rd T20I 2025 Match Highlights. timesofsports.com+9espn.com+9espn.com+9
🔍 Final Thoughts (ENG-W vs IND-W)
A pulsating match, swinging between big scores and tight defense. With this stunning win, England keeps the series alive and injects serious competitiveness. India, disappointed but undeterred, have everything to play with in the final two matches.
This thrilling contest showcased:
🏏 Bold batting—Dunkley & Verma, Mandhana & Verma.
🎯 Tactical bowling—Ecclestone, Filer, Bell.
🧠 Smart captaincy from Beaumont.
Famously they say, cricket’s a game of glorious uncertainties—and today, it was a script worthy of a blockbuster thriller.
