England Edge India by 5 Runs in Women's T20 World Cup Warm-Up Match

England secured a narrow five-run victory over India in a thrilling warm-up match ahead of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, which is set to begin on June 12.

The match, played in Cardiff, provided both teams with valuable preparation before the start of the tournament. Despite a spirited chase from India, England held their nerve to register a confidence-boosting win.

England Post Competitive Total

After being asked to bat, England scored 171/6 in their allotted 20 overs.

The innings was anchored by Amy Jones, who top-scored with 64 runs, while captain Nat Sciver-Brunt contributed a fluent 57 runs. Danielle Gibson added a useful 30 runs to help England post a challenging total.

For India, Shreyanka Patil picked up two wickets, while Shafali Verma, Renuka Singh, Sri Charani, and Radha Yadav claimed one wicket each.

Richa Ghosh Fights Hard in Chase

Chasing 172 for victory, India came close but were eventually bowled out for 166 in 19.5 overs, falling short by just five runs.

The standout performer for India was Richa Ghosh, who played an aggressive knock of 68 runs off 36 balls, including nine boundaries and two sixes. Her innings kept India in contention throughout the chase.

Other contributions came from Bharti Fulmali (18), captain Harmanpreet Kaur (17), and Yastika Bhatia (15), but the team ultimately fell just short of the target.

England Bowlers Seal the Win

England's bowling attack delivered at crucial moments to defend the total successfully.

Linsey Smith led the bowling effort with three wickets, while Charlotte Dean, Tilly Corteen-Coleman, and Danielle Gibson picked up two wickets each.

Positive Signs Ahead of World Cup

Although India ended up on the losing side, Richa Ghosh's explosive batting and the team's competitive performance offered encouraging signs ahead of the Women's T20 World Cup.

England, meanwhile, will take confidence from their balanced performance with both bat and ball as they prepare for the tournament.

With the World Cup set to begin in just a few days, both teams will be looking to fine-tune their strategies and carry momentum into the main competition.