TRENT BRIDGE — Smriti Mandhana delivered a masterclass in T20 batting with a scintillating century as India crushed England by a record 97 runs in the first T20I at Trent Bridge, marking England's heaviest defeat in terms of runs in the format.
Mandhana's 117 off 57 balls—her second T20I century—propelled India to a mammoth 198/4, a total England never threatened to chase, collapsing to 101 all out in 16.4 overs. The victory gave India a 1-0 lead in the three-match series and extended their dominance over England in recent encounters.
Mandhana's Magnificence
The left-handed opener dismantled England's attack with 17 boundaries (13 fours, 4 sixes), showcasing her trademark elegance and power. Her innings was the highest individual score by an Indian woman in T20Is, surpassing Harmanpreet Kaur's 103. "I just wanted to play my natural game," Mandhana said post-match. "The pitch was good, and once I got going, I backed myself to accelerate."
Key highlights of her knock:
- Reached 50 off 32 balls, then accelerated to 100 off just 51 deliveries
- Targeted England's spinners, striking at 200+ against Sophie Ecclestone and Sarah Glenn
- Partnerships of 76 with Shafali Verma (23) and 93* with Harmanpreet Kaur (26*)
England's Bowling Struggles
England's decision to field first backfired spectacularly as their bowlers lacked discipline. Lauren Bell (0/44) and Nat Sciver-Brunt (0/36) were particularly expensive. Only Sophie Ecclestone (1/30) maintained some control. Captain Heather Knight admitted, "We were outplayed in all departments. Smriti was exceptional, and we had no answers."
Turning Point
The match swung decisively in India's favor during Mandhana's assault in the 12th-15th overs, where she plundered 48 runs off 18 balls. England dropped two catches—Mandhana on 23 and 86—proving costly.
India's Bowling Dominance
India's spinners ran riot after the powerplay. Deepti Sharma (3/15) and Pooja Vastrakar (2/12) dismantled England's middle order, with only Danni Wyatt (23) and Amy Jones (19) reaching double figures. The hosts lost their last 7 wickets for 28 runs in 5.2 overs.
Notable bowling stats:
- England's run rate plummeted from 8.5 in the powerplay to 4.8 by the 10th over
- 7 English batters fell to spin, continuing a worrying trend against quality slow bowling
- India's fielding was sharp, with two direct-hit run-outs
Historical Context
This defeat surpassed England's previous heaviest T20I loss—an 85-run defeat to Australia in 2019. For India, it was their largest margin of victory against England, bettering the 76-run win in 2018. The result also continued India's strong record in England, having now won 4 of their last 5 T20Is there.
What's Next
The teams move to Derby for the second T20I on July 9, where England must win to keep the series alive. India will be without all-rounder Pooja Vastrakar, who suffered a finger injury. England may recall Katherine Sciver-Brunt for experience.
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur warned against complacency: "This was a perfect game, but England are dangerous. We need the same intensity in Derby." Knight remained optimistic: "We've bounced back before. This is a wake-up call."
With the T20 World Cup six months away, this series has taken on added significance. Mandhana's form—now averaging 52.50 in her last 10 T20Is—makes India genuine title contenders, while England must address their middle-order fragility against spin.
As records tumbled at Trent Bridge, one statistic stood out: Mandhana became the first Indian to score T20I centuries in two countries (also 86* vs Australia in 2022). Her innings reaffirmed her status as one of the modern greats, leaving England searching for answers ahead of the must-win second game.