Women’s T20 World Cup 2026: Charani four-fer, Smriti and Shafali fifties help India thrash Netherlands by 95 runs

The two schoolboys hopped on a train from London early in the morning, got off at Leeds, and then took a bus to Headingley. Oscar and Dylan weren’t disappointed, as they got to watch some fascinating cricket at the Women’s T20 World Cup.

They must have liked what they saw from one of their favourite teams: India. Harmanpreet Kaur and Co. scored a victory against the Netherlands at Headingley on Wednesday.

Once India posted 209 for five after winning the toss, the only question was about the margin of the victory. India won in the end by 95 runs.

AS IT HAPPENED | India vs Netherlands Highlights

Though the Netherlands innings got off to a fine start, with openers Heather Siegers and Phebe Molkenboer adding on 34 in just four overs, it was always going to be a tough ask for a team of part-timers making their World Cup debut, no matter how spirited they were.

Skipper Babette de Leede fought hard again, and was the only batter who lasted more than 20 balls. For India, the young N. Shree Charani came up with another fine spell, and finished with four for 19. It hasn’t taken her long to look so much at home in international cricket.

There were three wickets for Shafali Verma, who came to complete the sixth over after Shreyanka Patil had to be stretchered off the field after sustaining an ankle injury. The off-spinner looked in considerable discomfort and there seemed cause for concern for the Indian camp.

Earlier, the much adored Indian batting blossomed on a hot afternoon. There were runs for Shafali. And there were more runs for Smriti Mandhana, who made her second-successive fifty.

Shafali (55, 38b, 10×4) and Smriti (74, 47b, 11×4, 1×6) got into their act quickly and put on 115 for the first wicket, scoring at about 10 an over. Both played some fine strokes and India should be hoping for more such knocks from them in the matches to come.

Jemimah Rodrigues disappointed her fans in England — there are quite a few, including one of those schoolboys from London — once more and Yastika Bhatia, who came in for Bharti Fulmali, failed, too. But that trusted firm lower down the order, of Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh, ensured India would have more than enough runs on the board. Indian batting also benefited from the dropped catches.

Like Australia, the Women in Blue have won both their games. Tougher challenges await them, though.

Published on Jun 17, 2026