England Women Edge India by 4 Runs in World Cup 2025 Thriller at Lord’s
| Match | England Women vs India Women (ODI 20 of 31) |
|---|---|
| Venue | Lord’s, London |
| Result | England Women won by 4 runs |
| England Women | 288/8 (50 overs) |
| India Women | 284/6 (50 overs) |
| Player of the Match | Heather Knight (ENG) – 109 (91) |
England’s Innings – Heather Knight Anchors a Classic Lord’s Innings
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ngland Women, opting to bat first under mild autumn skies at Lord’s, were off to a slow start after Tammy Beaumont (22 off 43) was dismissed by Deepti Sharma in the 16th over. The early dismissal, however, brought Heather Knight to the crease — and from there, the match began to change tone.
Knight played with precision, rotating the strike and punishing loose deliveries. Alongside wicketkeeper Amy Jones (56 off 68), she added a vital 98-run stand for the third wicket. Once settled, Knight accelerated beautifully, scoring boundaries through both sides of the wicket and reaching her century in just 85 balls — an innings that combined power, grace, and temperament.
Nat Sciver-Brunt (38 off 49) and Charlie Dean (19* off 13) chipped in with crucial runs as England reached a competitive total of 288/8 in their 50 overs. Despite wickets falling at regular intervals in the final 10 overs, England’s middle order ensured the momentum stayed with them.
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T. Beaumont | 22 | 43 | 2 | 0 | 51.16 | b Deepti Sharma |
| A. Jones (wk) | 56 | 68 | 8 | 0 | 82.35 | c Smriti Mandhana b Deepti Sharma |
| H. Knight (c) | 109 | 91 | 15 | 1 | 119.78 | run out (Amanjot Kaur) |
| N. Sciver-Brunt | 38 | 49 | 4 | 0 | 77.55 | c Harmanpreet Kaur b Nallapureddy Charani |
| S. Dunkley | 15 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 71.43 | c Deepti Sharma b Nallapureddy Charani |
| E. Lamb | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 110.00 | c Smriti Mandhana b Deepti Sharma |
| A. Capsey | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 | b Deepti Sharma |
| C. Dean | 19* | 13 | 2 | 0 | 146.15 | not out |
| S. Ecclestone | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | run out (Smriti Mandhana) |
| L. Smith | 0* | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | not out |
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R. Singh | 8 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 4.63 |
| D. Sharma | 10 | 0 | 63 | 3 | 6.30 |
| N. Charani | 10 | 0 | 54 | 2 | 5.40 |
| S. Rana | 10 | 0 | 59 | 0 | 5.90 |
| H. Kaur | 6 | 0 | 42 | 0 | 7.00 |
| A. Kaur | 6 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 5.50 |
India’s Chase – Mandhana and Harmanpreet Shine Bright
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hasing a stiff target of 289, India got off to a shaky start losing Priya Rawal (6 off 14) early. But Smriti Mandhana looked in sublime touch. Her elegant drives through the off-side and commanding pull shots thrilled the spectators as she notched up a fluent 88 off 94 balls.
Harleen Deol provided support with 24 runs before being trapped lbw by Charlie Dean. At 42/2, India looked under pressure, but the arrival of Harmanpreet Kaur changed the mood. The Indian captain played one of her finest innings of the tournament, scoring 70 off 70 balls with 10 boundaries.
The partnership between Mandhana and Harmanpreet (124 runs) brought India back into contention. However, after Mandhana’s dismissal at 234/4, India began to lose momentum. Deepti Sharma (50 off 57) played another fighting knock, but the rising required rate proved decisive.
Despite brave efforts from Amanjot Kaur (18* off 15) and Sneh Rana (10* off 9), India finished four runs short at 284/6 — a heartbreaking defeat after a spirited performance.
| Batter | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P. Rawal | 6 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 42.86 | c Amy Jones b Lauren Bell |
| S. Mandhana | 88 | 94 | 8 | 0 | 93.62 | c Alice Capsey b Linsey Smith |
| H. Deol | 24 | 31 | 5 | 0 | 77.42 | lbw b Charlie Dean |
| H. Kaur (c) | 70 | 70 | 10 | 0 | 100.00 | c Emma Lamb b Nat Sciver-Brunt |
| D. Sharma | 50 | 57 | 5 | 0 | 87.72 | c Sophia Dunkley b Sophie Ecclestone |
| R. Ghosh (wk) | 8 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 80.00 | c Heather Knight b Nat Sciver-Brunt |
| A. Kaur | 18* | 15 | 2 | 0 | 120.00 | not out |
| S. Rana | 10* | 9 | 1 | 0 | 111.11 | not out |
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L. Bell | 9 | 0 | 52 | 1 | 5.78 |
| L. Smith | 10 | 0 | 40 | 1 | 4.00 |
| N. Sciver-Brunt | 8 | 0 | 47 | 2 | 5.88 |
| C. Dean | 10 | 0 | 67 | 1 | 6.70 |
| S. Ecclestone | 10 | 0 | 58 | 1 | 5.80 |
| A. Capsey | 3 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 6.67 |
Turning Point and Match Highlights
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he dismissal of Smriti Mandhana in the 42nd over turned the match decisively. England’s bowlers regrouped brilliantly in the death overs, maintaining tight lines and varying pace. Knight’s tactical acumen in rotating bowlers proved decisive in stifling India’s late acceleration.
The match also highlighted India’s strong middle-order performance, with three batters crossing fifty. Yet, missed chances in the field during England’s innings ultimately proved costly.
Post-Match Reactions
Heather Knight (ENG Captain): “One of the best games of the tournament! India pushed us all the way. I’m proud of the team’s composure under pressure.”
Harmanpreet Kaur (IND Captain): “It was heartbreaking to lose by just 4 runs. Smriti and Deepti were exceptional, but small moments changed the game. We’ll take positives and bounce back stronger.”
Analysis: A Match That Defines Modern Women’s Cricket
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his game perfectly encapsulated the evolution of women’s cricket — competitive, skillful, and emotionally charged. England’s experience and leadership prevailed, while India displayed heart, class, and tactical maturity.
The contest, watched by a near full house at Lord’s, reaffirmed the growing stature of women’s international cricket. Both teams now move forward with valuable takeaways as the World Cup 2025 heats up.
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