IND vs ENG: Shreyanka Patil, Saika Ishfaque and Smriti Mandhana hand India consolation win in 3rd T20I

A brilliant bowling performance from Shreyanka Patil and Saika Ishfaque and Smriti Mandhana’s 48 helped India grab a consolation.

In in the 3rd T20I by five wickets to avoid a whitewash against England in Mumbai on Sunday, December 10. Shreyanka and Saika picked up three wickets apiece on the day as the Indian bowlers ensured that they bundled out England for 126 runs in the first innings.

The visitors had won the toss on the day and elected to bat first. It was a much-changed England side on the day with Maia Bouchier getting a chance. However, her stay at the crease was a short one as Renuka Singh cleaned her up with a trademark inswinger.

Sophia Dunkley would get going but Renuka struck again as Shreyanka took the catch. Then it was the time for Saika to step in as she dismissed Alice Capsey with England reeling at 25 for three. Captain Heather Knight and Amy Jones would steady the ship with a 41-run stand as Saika once again stepped up. This time, she claimed two wickets in consecutive deliveries.

First, she dismissed Jones and then Danielle Gibson was castled. Shreyanka would then join the party and claimed three wickets in quick succession to put England in all sorts of trouble at 76 for eight. Knight would then go on the offensive and got to a well-deserved fifty as England went past the 100-run mark.

Amanjot Kaur would strike in the final two balls of the innings to dismiss Knight and Gaur to wrap things up.

The Indian run chase got off to the worst possible start as they lost Shafali Verma early. Jemimah and Mandhana then steadied the things for India with a 57-run partnership. After a slow start to her innings, Mandhana would race up to a 100 strike-rate and her partnership with Deepti Sharma got India closer to the win.

However, there were a few nervous moments in the end as India lost Mandhana, Deepti and Richa Ghosh in the space of 22 runs. However, Amanjot ensured that the pressure was released quickly and got her team over the line alongside Harmanpreet Kaur.

Amanjot hit two boundaries off Sophie Eccelstone in the penultimate over and played an elegant reverse sweep to get the winning runs and make the series 2-1.

India and England will now face-off in the one-off Test match, starting on December 14.