Mandhana stars as India inflict record loss on England

First T20, Trent Bridge

India 210-5 (20 overs): Mandhana 112 (62), Deol 43 (23); Bell 3-27

England 113 all out (14.5 overs): Sciver-Brunt 66 (42); Charani 4-12

India won by 97 runs

Smriti Mandhana scored a stunning century as India inflicted England’s heaviest T20 defeat by runs with a comprehensive 97-run triumph at Trent Bridge.

The opener blitzed 112 from 62 balls for her maiden T20 international hundred as India posted 210-5 on a flat surface in the series opener.

It was the second-highest total England have conceded in the format and they had no answer to the class of Mandhana, who struck 15 fours and three sixes in a remarkable innings.

The 28-year-old left-hander put England under pressure from the off and, with number three Harleen Deol contributing a rapid 43 from 23 balls, helped India post their second-highest T20I total.

It was a stark reminder of the work England still have to do following the encouraging T20 and one-day international series sweeps of the West Indies to kick-off the new era under coach Charlotte Edwards.

That feeling was only amplified as the home side lost four wickets in the first seven overs of the chase, captain Nat Sciver-Brunt providing the only resistance.

The game was long gone by the time Sciver-Brunt was eventually dismissed for 66 off 42 balls as England slumped to 113 all out with India left-arm spinner Shree Charani taking 4-12 on debut.

It was clear Mandhana was in the mood from the moment she effortlessly sent her first ball back down the ground for four.

She had added two more boundaries before top-edging a pull shot off Em Arlott in the second over.

The ball looped into the leg side but landed safely as Alice Capsey misjudged it, took her eye off the ball assuming it was going well over her head, only for it to drop just past her left shoulder onto the turf.

By the next time Mandhana offered England a chance, she had reached three figures.

After a productive powerplay, the India star then welcomed Sophie Ecclestone back to international cricket by slog-sweeping the left-arm spinner’s first ball into the stands for six.

Another followed three balls later as 19 came from the over and while Ecclestone eventually dismissed Mandhana in the last over of the innings, there was no suggestion of the England bowler – who finished with figures of 1-43 from three overs – having the last laugh.

In between, Mandhana continued to play a knock of the very highest order. Her strike-rate was 180 but there was no slogging, just a succession of classical cricket shots executed to near-perfection.

Sumptuous drives both down the ground and through the covers, masterful sweeps and some crunching pull shots – whatever England threw at her, Mandhana had the answer.

A false shot percentage of only 10% does not necessarily mean the other 90% came slap bang out of the middle of the bat but it felt that way as ball after ball raced towards the boundary.

It came as something of a shock when she was caught with four balls left in the innings, having scored a run fewer than England’s XI managed combined, but the damage had been done.