FOURTH CONSECUTIVE SERIES LOSS: Indian women lose T20I series against England

Chelmsford: A brilliant 89* by opener Danni Wyatt helped England beat India by 8 wickets in the third women's T20I and clinch the three match series 2-1, here late Wednesday night.

Wyatt put on 112 with Nat Sciver for the second wicket, as England made relatively easy work of a chase of 154 to win the T20I leg and seal a 10-6 series win overall.

A win for India in the last match of the UK tour would have seen them secure a draw across the multi-format series, but England's victory saw them complete 2-1 wins in both the T20I and ODI legs following the draw in last month’s Test.

After winning toss and opting to bat first, India got off to the worst start as Katherine Brunt concluded her duel against Shafali Verma with a wicket in the first over.

The young opener fell for a second-ball duck, and Harleen Deol (6) followed just two overs later as India stuttered to 13/2.

But fellow opener Smriti Mandhana rescued the innings for her side, ably assisted by skipper Harmanpreet Kaur's 36 from 26 deliveries.

England had little answer to Mandhana's quality, as she stroked eight fours and two sixes in a classy 70 (from 51 balls) and by the time she was finally dismissed in the 17th over, it was clear that India would post a competitive total.

And some big hits late in proceedings from Richa Ghosh (20 off 13) helped India up to 153/6.

In reply, England got off to a solid start in their chase before Tammy Beaumont (11) fell to Deepti Sharma (1/29) with the score on 20, midway through the fourth over.

That brought Sciver to the crease and the all-rounder put on a match-defining partnership of 112 with opener Wyatt to put the hosts on the verge of victory when she fell for 42 from 36 deliveries.

Sciver's wicket was the only other to fall, with Wyatt fittingly hitting the winning runs to finish on an unbeaten 89 from 56 balls. (UNI)