India Women continued their impressive run in the T20 World Cup with a comprehensive 95-run victory over the Netherlands on Wednesday. Powered by a dominant opening partnership from Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, India posted 209/5 — their highest total in Women’s T20 World Cup history — before bowling out the Dutch side for 114 in 17.3 overs.Asked to bat first, India got off to a flying start thanks to Mandhana and Shafali. The pair put on 115 runs in just 70 balls, with Shafali taking charge in the powerplay and Mandhana accelerating after the field restrictions. Shafali struck 55 off 38 balls to register her first fifty of the tournament, while Mandhana followed up her previous half-century with another classy 74 off 47 deliveries.Though Jemimah Rodrigues and captain Harmanpreet Kaur could not add much after the openers departed, quickfire cameos from Richa Ghosh (20 off 8) and Deepti Sharma (10 off 2) helped India finish strongly.
Bowlers complete one-sided win
The Netherlands never really threatened in the chase despite some resistance from captain Babette de Leede, who scored 28, and Sterre Kalis, who made 18. Once the duo departed, the innings quickly unraveled as India tightened the screws.Debutant pacer Nandani Sharma enjoyed a memorable outing, claiming her maiden wicket in an ICC event by dismissing opener Heather Siegers. Deepti Sharma struck early once again, while left-arm spinner Shree Charani proved too difficult for the Dutch middle and lower order, even finding herself on a hat-trick at one stage.The only concern for India came when off-spinner Shreyanka Patil twisted her ankle while fielding and had to be stretchered off the ground after delivering just one ball.India had made two changes to the side, bringing in Yastika Bhatia for Bharti Fulmali and handing Nandani Sharma a chance in place of Arundhati Reddy. Harmanpreet Kaur’s side will next face South Africa in Manchester on June 21.
