Danni Wyatt (89th of 56 balls) paired 112 runs with Nat Sciver (42 of 36) for the second wicket as England chased 154 to win; Hosts clinch 10-6 multi-format series win over India by winning T20Is 2-1
Danni Wyatt broke an unbeaten record of 89, with 56 balls, when England posted a 10-6 victory in their multi-format series with India, courtesy of an eight-wicket victory in the third and final T20I at Chelmsford on Wednesday night.
Chasing 154 to win, Wyatt shared a 112-run second-field position with Nat Sciver (42 of 36), and while Sciver was 22 short of the victory goal, Wyatt scored the winning runs with eight balls to spare.
A win for India would have seen them claim the T20 leg of their 2-1 tour and tie the multi-format series, and they seemed to have a chance by posting a decent 153-6 total after choosing to hit first. .
The visitors’ prospects improved further when Deepti Sharma (1-29) caught Tammy Beaumont for 11 in the fourth over, but a welcome return to form from Wyatt, who was eliminated for the ODI leg of the series, led to England to victory.
Earlier, English veteran Katherine Brunt (2-27) won her personal duel with 17-year-old superstar Shafali Verma, throwing her for a two-ball duck in the opening.
Harleen Deol (6) didn’t stick around long, picking Sciver in the short midwicket, who took a big low catch by diving forward, but Mandhana and India captain Harmanpreet Kaur later rebuilt.
The pair put up 68 for the third wicket, in a decent time too, before Kaur (36 of 26) dropped lbw to Sciver in the 13th. Meanwhile, Mandhana went to a thirteenth T20I fifty, with 42 balls.
Brunt returned to take the key wicket, Mandhana drilling the deep midwicket for 70, while Sophie Ecclestone (3-35) claimed a pair later when India topped 150.
England’s collapse in chasing a similar score of 149 at Hove on Sunday will have been fresh in the memory but, despite Beaumont’s early loss, there were no such wobbles this time around.
Wyatt drew his eighth T20I half a century, and his first in 19 games, with 33 balls, and went on to hit 12 limits and a six, with the opener particularly strong when hitting over the top straight to the ground or onto the decks.
Sciver, meanwhile, was a perfect contrast and kept his recent fine form. Sneh Rana (1-27) sneaked through their defenses at 17, but there was no late collapse from the hosts this time around.
Man of the match, Danni Wyatt: “It was about time. But I really enjoyed hitting tonight – it was my night – and I’m really happy to get the series win.
“There is always pressure playing for England. You just have to accept it and try to do what I do best and enjoy it.”
England Captain Heather Knight: “I’m very happy with the girls. We talked about the game at Hove and being more ruthless, wanting to take responsibility as individuals to win the games.
“The way Danni played today was outstanding. I’m very happy for him, obviously she had a bit of a hard time after not being on the ODI team, but she has hung her head and worked very hard.”
