A Thrilling Finish at Edgbaston
Fans got every ounce of drama in the fifth T20I between India Women and England Women at Edgbaston. Even though the series was already in India’s pocket, the energy on the field felt like a decider, not a dead rubber. Shafali Verma was on fire, smashing 71 runs off just 41 balls, but her blinder couldn’t guarantee an Indian win. England grabbed a tense five-wicket victory, sealing it on the very last ball.
After being put in to bat, India took the field with a confidence you could feel. But things didn’t start smoothly. Smriti Mandhana, usually a reliable anchor at the top, fell early. Jemimah Rodrigues followed soon after, leaving the visitors on the back foot. That’s when Verma shifted gears, turning up the heat with a flurry of boundaries and sixes. Her strike rate had the crowd buzzing, and she brought India right back into the contest.
Standing at the other end was Harmanpreet Kaur, who had a record-breaking day herself. She grabbed headlines by outstripping Mithali Raj to become India's most-capped women’s cricketer, playing her 334th international match. Harmanpreet didn’t just make up the numbers, though—her 66-run partnership with Verma kept the runs ticking over and gave India something solid to defend.
England’s Nerve-Holding Chase
India’s innings, though promising at times, hit roadblocks thanks to England’s Charlie Dean. Her 3 for 23 wasn’t flashy, but she broke partnerships just when India looked dangerous, making sure they finished at 167 for 7 after 20 overs. A decent total, but on a surface that tended to favor batters, there were doubts if it would be enough.
England’s reply started with a steady flow, and Danielle Wyatt-Hodge was the architect. She timed her chase to perfection, scoring 56 from only 37 balls. India tried to wrestle the momentum back with key wickets, but English batters kept their cool. Even when pressure mounted, England’s lower order kept squeezing singles and twos, forcing India’s bowlers into tough spots.
The game went right down to the wire, with England needing runs off the final ball—a situation guaranteed to keep hearts pounding. England’s batters didn’t blink, grabbing the win with just a delivery left in the bank. Sure, the victory gave England their second win in the series, but the real story was India walking away with their first-ever T20I bilateral series win against England. History was made on both sides of the pitch: Kaur’s all-time cap record and a milestone for women’s cricket in India.
This Edgbaston thriller will stick in the memories of fans for more than just the result. It had rising stars, record-breakers, and a last-ball climax—just what you hope to see in top-level women’s cricket. The rivalry now has a new chapter, and Indian cricket has new pages to write as the women continue to break barriers and set records.