India Secure Comprehensive Win Over England to Go 2-0 Ahead in T20I Series

India Women produced another solid and all-around performance to secure a comprehensive 2-0 lead over England in the five-match T20I series. The team produced an impressive show with both bat and ball as they won the second game played in Bristol by 24 runs. Though Jemimah Rodrigues and Amanjot Kaur produced match-winning knocks with the bat, India's bowlers also maintained their calm to seal the deal and keep England at bay throughout the match.

India were requested to bat first and the innings started with some brisk runs from Smriti Mandhana who was in good touch from the very first over. She hit two nice boundaries to put India on the board. But after that initial promise things took a turnaround in favor of the visitors in a big way. Shafali Verma who had come back to the team couldn't get going and lost her wicket early. Jemimah Rodrigues attempted playing in a positive vein by hitting two early boundaries but the team suffered a jolt when Mandhana was dismissed for only 13. The trouble wasn't over as captain Harmanpreet Kaur who had been brought back to the playing eleven wasn't able to capitalize on a loose ball and scored only one run.

At 35 for 3 from the powerplay, India appeared to be in trouble. That is when Rodrigues and Amanjot intervened and decided that they must battle back. A 14-run over by Linsay Smith gave the innings the much-needed impetus and suddenly the run rate began to rise. Rodrigues cranked up the pace with some top-notch strokeplay. She hit a six and then two consecutive boundaries back-to-back and in the following over, she hit three consecutive fours which helped her reach her half-century. Her timing and confidence unsettled the English bowlers and the partnership began to develop.

As the innings went on Amanjot joined the party too. She hit three boundaries in one over and contributed 49 runs in only three overs to India. Even when Rodrigues got dismissed owing to a smart catch by Sophia Dunkley Amanjot continued playing with poise and panache. She got to her half-century at the last stage of the innings and played in good partnership with Richa Ghosh who scored a raging cameo. Ghosh was unbeaten on 32 off only 20 balls and in the last five overs they contributed 55 runs together to reach a total of India for 181 for 4. Amanjot remained not out on 63 off 40 balls scoring nine wonderful boundaries in the process.

With the momentum going in their favor, India played with tremendous vigor in the field. The bowling attack started off strongly as England’s top order collapsed early. Sophia Dunkley was run out in the first over in a moment of miscommunication. Then Dani Wyatt-Hodge gave Deepti Sharma her first wicket by hitting a simple catch to mid-off. In no time England were reduced to 17 for 3 and looked completely shaken. Nat-Sciver Brunt attempted to set the innings rolling by striking three boundaries in succession but her stay lasted only for a while as she misjudged a shot off Amanjot and was caught.

England were in serious trouble but Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones attempted to revive hopes. Beaumont played a consistent hand and formed a vital partnership that restored some parity in the chase. She even scored her maiden half-century in almost four years which provided some cheer for England. But when the game was otherwise slipping through India's fingers a clever piece of fielding by Sneh Rana resulted in Beaumont being run-out. That proved to be a turning point as India capitalized on the new wicket to slow England.

Post Beaumont's exit Indian bowlers shut shop with some disciplined overs. Wickets fell at frequent intervals and England's required rate kept on rising. Sophie Ecclestone played a few loose shots in the last overs and attempted to close in on the target with an unbeaten 35 but that proved inadequate to get her team near the target. Towards the end India bowled with concentration and precision to win the match by 24 runs.

Both Rodrigues and Amanjot were the saviors with the bat for India as their aggressive innings altered the direction of the innings after a nervous start. The manner in which they consolidated their partnership and established control over the middle overs provided a solid platform towards a fighting score. On the bowling front it was a collective effort with early breakthroughs and important wickets in the middle overs. The fielding was crisp also and the players appeared to be completely dedicated.

With this victory India now have a 2-0 lead in the series and have proven that they are quite obviously the superior team at present. Their capacity to bounce back from pressure moments and the confidence they exhibited in both departments make them a good bet to take the series. England, however, will have to do considerable thinking as their batting line-up has not appeared stable and their bowling could not prevent India's batsmen from accelerating.

The third series match will be crucial for both teams. India will try to seal the series w