Just before the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, Team India has got a reality check. To prepare for the tournament, the Indian team, which was playing a T20 series with hosts England, had to face defeat by 26 runs in the second match. In this match played in Bristol, England batted first and scored 168 runs, in response to which the Indian team could score only 142 runs and thus the series became equal to 1-1. Team India suffered a heavy loss in the 20th over in this match, where Freya Camp played a stormy innings.
6 balls were heavy after good bowling
in the first match of the series team india Had taken the lead by registering a big victory. The same was expected from him in the second match also. The bowlers made a good contribution in this matter and kept England under control till the 18th over. Especially spinners Shri Charani and Shreyampa Patil did not allow the England batsmen to score runs freely. Charani took 3 wickets for 25 runs in 4 overs and Patil took 1 wicket for 29 runs in 4 overs.
Till the 18th over, England’s score was 129 runs for 6 wickets and it seemed difficult to reach 150. Then in the 19th over 15 runs including 3 fours came. But the real loss happened to India in the 20th over. In this over of pacer Arundhati Reddy, Freya Camp played all the 6 balls alone and scored 24 runs including 2 sixes and 2 fours. Camp scored the highest unbeaten 39 runs in just 13 balls.
Didn’t show strength in batting
Team India was expecting a good start from Smriti Mandhana this time. After slow batting for some time, Mandhana was seen opening her hands and Team India had scored 70 runs by the 9th over. It was here that Mandhana was out and the pace of runs slowed down. Only 39 runs were scored in the next 6 overs and Yastika Bhatia had to be retired in the 15th over.
Now 60 runs were needed in the last 5 overs but Team India could score only 33 runs and lost 6 wickets. In this way the team could score only 142 runs in 20 overs. Camp also did wonders in bowling for England and also took 2 wickets. Captain Charlie Dean and pacer Lauren Bell also took 2-2 wickets.
Why is there tension before the World Cup?
This performance is going to be stressful for Team India in many ways because not only was Team India in a good position and gave England a chance to make a comeback, but it also did not show any strength in batting. Mandhana definitely scored some runs in this match but she was not able to give the team the kind of start that is required in T20 cricket. At the same time, the middle order batting is also a cause of trouble, which could not score runs fast against the spinners. Even strike rotation has proved difficult for the batsmen.
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