England edge past India in ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up

CARDIFF: Half-centuries from opener Amy Jones and captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, followed by a collective bowling effort, led England to a narrow five-run victory over India in the warm-up match of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 here at the Sophia Gardens on Wednesday.

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur's decision to field first backfired as the hosts piled up a formidable total of 171/6 in their 20 overs, courtesy of a 70-run partnership for the second wicket between Jones and Sciver-Brunt.

England, however, got off to a shaky start to their innings as they lost opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge (three) in the fourth over with just 27 runs on the board.

Jones, who dominated the opening stand, then anchored England's batting charge with captain Sciver-Brunt until eventually falling victim to Shafali Verma in the 13th over. She walked back after top-scoring for the home side with a brisk 64 off 45 deliveries, studded with eight fours.

England captain was then involved in brief partnerships with Alice Capsey (two) and Freya Kemp (seven) before sharing an important 31-run stand with bowling all-rounder Dani Gibson.

Sciver-Brunt was eventually dismissed by Shreyanka Patil in the penultimate over after scoring a 45-ball 57 with the help of eight fours, while Gibson batted until the end and returned after contributing with an unbeaten 30 off 12 deliveries, comprising four fours and a six.

Patil was the standout bowler for India, taking two wickets for 29 runs in her four overs, while Radha Yadav, Shree Charani, Renuka Singh and Verma made one scalp apiece.

Set to chase a daunting 172-run target, India could muster 166 before getting bowled out in 19.5 overs despite a valiant half-century by wicketkeeper batter Richa Ghosh.

Ghosh, who walked out to bat at No.6 when India were reeling at 63/4 following the departure of their captain Kaur on the first delivery of the 10th over, launched a counterattack on the England bowlers and kept the visitors in the hunt until her dismissal on the fourth delivery of the final over.

She was stumped off Linsey Smith when India needed six off two deliveries and walked back in agony despite top-scoring with a blistering 68 off just 36 deliveries, featuring nine fours and two sixes.

Besides her, no other Indian batter could breach the 20-run barrier against the disciplined England bowling attack, led by Smith, who bagged three wickets but was expensive as she conceded 42 runs in her 3.5 overs, while Charlie Dean, Tilly Corteen-Coleman and Gibson bagged two wickets, while Issy Wong chipped in with one scalp.