LONDON: With regular skipper Harmanpreet Kaur out due to a head injury, Mandhana led from the front with a sublime 112 off 62 balls — her maiden T20I century — anchoring India to a commanding 210 for 5, their second-highest total in T20 internationals. She reached the milestone in just 51 balls, joining an elite club of players with centuries across all three formats.

Mandhana’s knock was supported by a fluent 43 off 23 from Harleen Deol and a brisk 77-run opening stand with Shafali Verma. Her assault on England’s premier spinner Sophie Ecclestone, which included 19 runs in one over, set the tone for India’s innings. Although Lauren Bell picked up 3 for 27 in the final overs, England’s bowling lacked bite, with Ecclestone leaking 43 runs in just three overs.

Chasing 211, England faltered early and never recovered. Sophia Dunkley fell in the first over, caught brilliantly by Richa Ghosh. Deepti Sharma struck twice to remove Danni Wyatt and Tammy Beaumont, while Radha Yadav’s sharp turn sent back Amy Jones.

The star with the ball, however, was 19-year-old Shree Charani, who marked her debut with a sensational spell of 4 for 12. She dismissed key batters including Alice Capsey and top-scorer Nat Sciver-Brunt, whose fighting 66 off 37 balls was the only resistance in England’s 113 all out in 14.2 overs.