India squandered a commanding position to lose the third and deciding match of the ENG-W vs IND-W T20 2026 series by six wickets in Taunton as England sealed a 2-1 victory ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Tuesday.
Despite an unbeaten fifty from skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, world No. 3 India’s total of 180/5 proved insufficient in a high-pressure contest against the second-ranked England women’s cricket team.
Lauren Bell emerged as England’s standout bowler with figures of 2/36.
In the chase, England were on the ropes at 38/3 but a 137-run stand off 76 balls between Alice Capsey (82 off 43) and Heather Knight (70 not out off 42) helped the hosts chase down the target in 18.3 overs.
Arundhati Reddy (2/31) and Kranti Gaud (2/40) were the only two bowlers to pick up wickets for the Indian women’s cricket team.
India entered the decider after the two teams shared the opening matches of the series. India won the first T20I in Chelmsford before England bounced back in Bristol.
Asked to bat first after England won the toss, India recovered from early setbacks through contributions across the middle order before Harmanpreet Kaur anchored the innings with a composed 56 not out off 40 balls.
Shafali Verma fell early courtesy Linsey Smith, while Smriti Mandhana was trapped LBW by Charlie Dean in the fourth over. Yastika Bhatia scored 32 off 18 balls to take the powerplay score 57/2 before being run out in the following over.
Jemimah Rodrigues (29 off 19) shared a 40-run stand with Harmanpreet Kaur before Lauren Bell struck.
India appeared in danger of losing momentum at 100/4 in the 11th over but Harmanpreet and Deepti Sharma rebuilt the innings, adding 67 runs for the fifth wicket, with Deepti contributing 32 off 24 balls.
While Deepti was dismissed in the 19th over. Harmanpreet stayed unbeaten to help India finish at 180/5.
India made the ideal start with the ball as Kranti Gaud dismissed Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Amy Jones while Arundhati Reddy accounted for Sophia Dunkley to leave England struggling at 38/3 in the sixth over.
However, Alice Capsey and Heather Knight counterattacked to wrest control of the chase away from India.
Capsey smashed a 27-ball fifty en route to her 82 off 43, which included nine fours and three sixes. Knight matched her intent at the other end with an unbeaten 70 off 42 balls, striking 10 boundaries.
The pair added 137 runs for the fourth wicket and ensured England never lost momentum again despite India trying six bowling options.
Capsey eventually fell in the 18th over but by then England were already within touching distance of victory.
India will next face West Indies in a World Cup warm-up match on June 8 before taking on England once again in another practice fixture on June 10 in Cardiff.
The Indian women’s cricket team will begin its Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against Pakistan on June 14 at Edgbaston.
ENG-W vs IND-W T20 2026, 3rd match, brief scores: India Women 180/5 in 20 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 56 not out; Lauren Bell 2/36) lost to England Women 184/4 in 18.3 overs (Alice Capsey 82, Heather Knight 70 not out; Arundhati Reddy 2/31, Kranti Gaud 2/40 2/40) by six wickets.
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