England vs India: Alice Capsey and Heather Knight star with half-centuries as hosts clinch T20 series | Cricket News

Alice Capsey and Heather Knight both struck half-centuries to guide England to a 2-1 series victory during their T20 decider against India at Taunton on Tuesday.

Charlotte Edwards opted to name an unchanged side to play in the series decider, but Capsey’s 82 off 43 deliveries and Knight’s unbeaten 70 will have given the England coach more selection headaches ahead of this summer’s Women’s T20 World Cup, as they advanced to a sensational partnership of 137 from 76 balls.

India set England a target of 181 to win, after Harmanpreet Kaur swiped away seven fours for a score 56 not out off 40 deliveries. Deepti Sharma and Yastika Bhatia also impressed, both posting scores of 32 to put more pressure on the hosts heading into the second innings.

England were sent into the field with a required run rate of 9.36, and despite finding themselves three wickets down for 38 runs inside six overs, outstanding performances from Capsey and Knight saw the hosts seal a six-wicket victory.

It was the highest successful run chase by an England Women’s T20 side on home soil, with Capsey, who smashed her way to a half-century off 31 deliveries, being crowned the Player of the Match.

Knight has also been under pressure for a place in the side for this summer’s Women’s T20 World Cup, following an indifferent run of form in the past few months, but her impressive knock quelled doubts over whether she should be included in Edwards’ starting XI.

England lost Danni Wyatt-Hodge (5), Sophia Dunkley (16) and Amy Jones (2) early in the innings, and Capsey and Knight were faced with the tough task of eating into India’s score, with their run rate to win having risen to 9.53.

But the England batters weathered the pressure and mounted an incredible chase, with Knight smashing her way to a half-century off 31 deliveries.

“I thought it was outstanding,” Edwards said of England’s performance.

“We didn’t quite know what to do at the toss. Having batted first before winning the game.

“But we really wanted to test ourselves. It was a good chasing ground.

“We’ve worked hard over the past few months to chase these big totals and it’s happened just before the World Cup to chase these big totals.”

Edwards “close” to settling on her World Cup XI

Wyatt-Hodge and Dunkley each started the innings strongly, hitting fours in the second over, before Kranti Gaud produced an incredible inswinger that caught the latter off-guard, with the delivery bouncing into her middle stump.

Dunkley again struggled to build a big score as she looked to maintain the run rate in Wyatt-Hodge’s absence. She smashed a ball from Arundhati Reddy out to deep mid-wicket, but Jemimah Rodrigues was waiting to snaffle up the lofted stroke, before Jones was also dismissed by Deepti Sharma.

Edwards previously admitted that she has had “headaches” while trying to figure out her top order, but the England coach admitted on Thursday that they were now “close” on settling their starting XI, with her side’s opening Women’s T20 World Cup match against Sri Lanka now just 10 days away.

Edwards has a logjam of five players fighting for two positions at the top of the order. And after Capsey’s incredible knock, the England coach could now look to bring the 21-year-old higher up in the order.

“She [Capsey] has been in our plans because she can play 360 degrees,” Edwards said.

“She can bowl, and she’s a brilliant fielder. They’re the type of players you want in your team. Incredible for a 21-year-old.

“How she’s developed as a player this winter, and she’s worked very hard on her game, it is just really pleasing to see her get those rewards.”

Pressed on who could start against Sri Lanka next week, Edwards said: “The competition for places within this side, they keep putting in performances and I think it’s great, not only are we under pressure in games like this, but within the team now.

“I genuinely think the 15 people we have in this squad could play in an 11 and that’s a really good place to be in as a squad.”

England taking the positives ahead of the World Cup

There is plenty for England to be happy about following Tuesday’s win, with captain Charlie Dean enjoying another excellent performance in the field, taking one wicket and two catches.

The skipper was instrumental in helping her side get a breakthrough at the start of India’s innings. Linsey Smith forced Shafali Verma to clip an edge up in the air to point, with Dean tracking back on herself to take a brilliant catch that put England on the front foot.

Yastika Bhatia arrived at the crease and took the game head-on, lifting India’s run rate following the dismissal of Verma.

As India edged into control, Dean, who took two wickets in Bristol and one in Chelmsford, then dismissed Smriti Mandhana for lbw, momentarily stunting India’s scoring rate.

The captain’s work in the field appeared to lift her team-mates, with Sophie Ecclestone producing a sensational direct hit from mid-on to take Bhatia’s wicket at a crucial moment in the match.

“We set the standards we wanted to in the field,” Dean said. “The girls were phenomenal throughout, keeping the energy.

“India hit a lot of boundaries and it can be hard to stay up when you are leaking runs on occasion, so for our fielding performance to do a lot of talking is all you can ask for.

“I am really enjoying bowling as well and feel like I have plans. It is coming out the hand nicely.”

Lauren Bell was the pick of the bowlers, taking two wickets for 36 runs, notably dismissing Deepti Sharma just as she began to build a partnership of 67 runs alongside Harmanpreet Kaur.

The England seamer sent down a slower delivery, with Sharma hitting the ball up into the air towards Dean, who was waiting at mid-off, taking the catch.

Capsey: It was ‘very calm’ batting with Knight

Reflecting on the victory, Capsey explained that it was very ‘calm’ batting alongside Knight.

“It was really pleasing to get over the line. We have spoken a lot as a batting unit about chasing those big totals so this was pleasing,” Capsey said.

“It was very calm with Heather [Knight], she is very experienced campaigner and it is always nice batting with her.

“It was about hitting through the line of the ball as it was a lovely pitch out there. I didn’t feel I had to manufacture anything.

“I just tried to stay with the rate. In the second 10 overs, it was then about finishing the game as quickly as possible, not leaving it too late.”

Watch every ball of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup exclusively live on Sky Sports and NOW, from the opening match on June 12 through to the final on July 5. Hosts England kick off the tournament on opening night with a game versus Sri Lanka at Edgbaston (6.30pm start).

England’s T20 World Cup group fixtures

All times UK and Ireland; all live on Sky Sports

• vs Sri Lanka (Friday June 12) – Edgbaston, Birmingham (6.30pm)
• vs Ireland (Tuesday June 16) – Utilita Bowl, Southampton (6.30pm)
• vs Scotland (Saturday June 20) – Headingley, Leeds (6.30pm)
• vs West Indies (Wednesday June 24) – Lord’s, London (6.30pm)
• vs New Zealand (Saturday June 27) – The Kia Oval, London (6.30pm)