Jemimah, Yastika, Nandani Star in India’s First-Blood Victory

India beat England by 38 runs – 188/7 vs 150/8. Series: 1-0 lead in the 3-match women’s T20I series. Context: India’s final series before the T20 World Cup starting June 12.

After a troubled start at Chelmsford in which Lauren Bell took two wickets in the first over to leave the tourists 7 for 2, Yastika and Rodrigues shared a century stand for the third wicket as captain Harmanpreet Kaur was rested. Playing her first T20I in two years, Yastika struck 54 off 40 balls - her maiden T20I fifty - and Rodrigues faced as many deliveries for her typically poised 69. England overcame a rash of fielding errors after winning the toss to contain the target after the pair departed, with Deepti Sharma's 13-ball cameo worth 22 the only other double-figure score.

Rodrigues & Yastika Turn It Around

Start: India collapsed to 2 down early – Smriti Mandhana out for golden duck, Shafali Verma 2 off 3. Counter-attack:Jemimah Rodrigues 69 off 40 – 10 fours, 1 six, 50 off 31 balls. Yastika Bhatia 54 off 40 – 9 fours, 1 six, maiden T20I fifty on return after 2 years126-run stand for 3rd wicket off 76 balls rescued India. Yastika’s comeback*: Back after knee surgery, first T20I since April 2024.

For a third match in a row, Bell struck in the first over, this time with the big wickets of Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma. Smriti, standing in as captain for Harmanpreet, spooned the first ball - a half-volley outside off stump - straight to cover, where Charlie Dean gleefully accepted the offering. Then, off the last ball, Shafali skied one towards mid-on, where Alice Capsey ran in to take a sharp, diving catch.

Nandani Sharma, debutant pacer, starred with the ball as India restricted England to 150/8. Background: Drafted in as back-up seamer after Amanjot Kaur and Kashvee Gautam injuries. WPL form: Had taken a hat-trick in WPL earlier this year.

Jones's dismissal, slog-sweeping Nandani to deep midwicket sparked a mini collapse from which England would never recover. Nandani, the 24-year-old quick, was on a hat-trick after Dani Gibson holed out next ball, Shafali again doing the work in the outfield, as she had done to end Jones's innings. And while Dean negotiated the next delivery, Nandani had her third wicket two balls later, a slower one that deceived Wong and clattered into off stump.

Lauren Bell 3/34 gave England a fiery start. Amy Jones 67 off 48 at No.3 – her first T20I fifty in nearly 6 years. England’s issue: Bowling depth exposed – Issy Wong conceded 27 in one over, Dani Gibson 17 in the final.

Bottom line: Rodrigues and Yastika rebuilt from 2 down with a 126-run stand, then debutant Nandani sealed it with the ball as India took first blood in their World Cup tune-up.

India 188 for 7 (Rodrigues 69, Yastika 54, Bell 3-34) beat England 150 for 8 (Jones 67, Nandani 3-34) by 38 runs