Days ahead of the three-T20I series opener against England, Smriti Mandhana-led India registered a comprehensive seven-wicket win over ECB Development Women's XI in Chelmsford on May 25. Pacer Arundhati Reddy starred with the ball, taking three wickets as visitors restricted the opponents for 154/6. Shafali Verma's quickfire half-century, Yastika Bhatia and Bharti Fulmali's 40s helped India chase down the target with 22 balls to spare and seven wickets in hand. However, the continued to bat on in the warm-up fixture and posted 200 on the board.
Early strikes for pacers
Kranti Gaud drew first blood with the wicket of Liberty Heap. In the next over, Reddy had her first as Till Kesteven departed for a single-digit score. She followed it up with Bethan Gammon's wicket as well. From 16/3 in the third over, wicketkeeper-batter Ariana Dowse and Florence Miller batted patiently.
Hosts post respectable total
The 52-run partnership was broken by Shreyanka Patil. The spinner knocked over wicketkeeper-batter Ariana who scored 13 runs from 17 deliveries. In the 15th over, Florence missed her fifty as Reddy returned and knocked her over. She scored 48 runs from 41 balls, including seven fours. In the slog overs Joanne Gardner and skipper Sophia Smale pushed the scoring rate. In the final over, Gardner fell for a 27-ball 36 to Deepti Sharma. Smale remained unbeaten for an 18-ball 36, taking the score of 154/6..
Shafali scores 50 and retires out
In the run chase, Mandhana got off to a flying start but lost her wicket to Clara Thaker in the second over. She hit three fours and a six in her 10-ball 21. Shafali made use of the powerplay overs with Yastika playing second fiddle. Shafali reached her half-century from 25 balls and retired out to give others a chance. Her knock featured nine fours and a six. In the ninth over, Bharti arrived at the crease. Yastika missed her half-century as she lost her wicket to Ellie Anderson in the 14th over.
Bharti misses fifty, India post 200
In the 17th over, India chased down the target but continued to bat on. Bharti hit five fours and a couple of sixes during her stay at the crease. In the penultimate over, she missed her fifty and got stumped off Maria Andrews' bowling. She scored 48 runs from 29 balls. After shining with the bat, Reddy got a chance to bat and contributed with a 16-ball 20 before getting knocked over by Anderson. Shreyanka got run out after a boundary and in attempt to take a second run. Jemimah Rodrigues and Deepti remained unbeaten as India post 200/6 in 20 overs.
The T20I series will begin at the same venue on May 28. It will work as a preparatory series before the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 on English soil.