CARDIFF - Half-centuries from Amy Jones and captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, followed by a disciplined bowling performance, guided England to a narrow five-run victory over India in an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up match at Sophia Gardens on Wednesday.
After being sent in to bat by India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, England posted an imposing 171/6 in their allotted 20 overs. The innings was built around a crucial 70-run partnership for the second wicket between Jones and Sciver-Brunt. England suffered an early setback when Danni Wyatt-Hodge fell for three with the score on 27, but Jones steadied the innings and led the recovery. The opener top-scored with a fluent 64 off 45 deliveries, striking eight boundaries before being dismissed by Shafali Verma in the 13th over. Sciver-Brunt then kept the momentum going, adding useful runs with Dani Gibson after brief stays at the crease from Alice Capsey and Freya Kemp.
The England skipper struck 57 off 45 balls, including eight fours, before falling in the penultimate over. Gibson provided a late flourish with an unbeaten 30 from just 12 deliveries, hitting four fours and a six. Shreyanka Patil was India’s most successful bowler with 2-29, while Radha Yadav, Shree Charani, Renuka Singh and Verma claimed one wicket each.
Chasing 172, India were bowled out for 166 in 19.5 overs despite a spirited counterattack from wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh. India slipped to 63/4 after Harmanpreet’s dismissal at the start of the 10th over, leaving Ghosh with a mountain to climb.
The right-hander kept India in contention with a blistering 68 off 36 balls, smashing nine fours and two sixes. However, she was stumped by Jones off Linsey Smith with India needing six runs from the final two deliveries, effectively ending their hopes. Smith finished with three wickets, while Charlie Dean, Tilly Corteen-Coleman and Gibson picked up two apiece.
In another warm-up fixture, Georgia Voll starred with an unbeaten 77 off 48 balls as Australia cruised to a six-wicket victory over the West Indies in Cardiff. Chasing 132, the top-ranked Australians reached the target in just 15 overs after restricting the West Indies to 131 all out, despite Deandra Dottin’s 46.
