Highlights, England vs India, 1st T20I at Northampton, Full cricket score: Hosts win via DLS method, take 1-0 lead in three-match series

Natalie Sciver (Player of the Match): Could have hit some more sixes (chuckles). I was really enjoying it out there. I got an opportunity to bat with freedom today. We’ve got a really strong batting line-up. Once you find comfortable on that pitch, you can hit through the line. It was just a good game.

England skipper Heather Knight: We still got a series to win. Really pleased with how things went today. Nat was outstanding and so was Amy Jones. Nat hit the ball really hard, brilliant partnership with Amy. Danni and Tammy deserve a mention at the top as well. She (Jones) moved down from opening last year, she suits to the role (middle-order). This is the best role for her and the team. Clinical performance from the girls.

Harmanpreet Kaur: We knew after 8.30 pm there could be rain, so that’s why we were batting according to DL, but we kept losing wickets. If there were two-three more overs, we felt we could make it. Losing wickets back to back, that was the reason. We fielded really well, there’s a lot of improvement, Shikha did really well in the bowling. We need to think of the boundaries we are giving up.

DONE AND DUSTED! England win by 18 runs by virtue of the DLS method.

The weather played spoilsport, it would have been great if we had a full game here. Nevertheless, England appeared the better side, right from the word go.

After 8.4 overs, INDW 54/3 ( Deol 17, Sharma 4)

Glenn continues. Three singles to start the over followed by a dot. It started with a drizzle but it’s pouring quite heavily now. Umpires have decided to call off play for now. If DLS comes into the picture, India are behind by 18 runs.

After 8 overs, INDW 51/3 ( Deol 16, Sharma 2)

Another bowling change as Mady Villiers, right-arm off break, comes into the attack. Sharma gets beaten off the second delivery, Jones with lovely glovework as she dislodges the bail in a jiffy but luckily for India, Sharma gets her foot back in the crease just in time. Just four singles in the over.

After 7 overs, INDW 47/3 ( Deol 14, Sharma 0)

Bowling change for England as Sarah Glenn, right-arm leg break, comes into the attack. And she gets rid of the Indian skipper Harmanpreet, whose woeful run continues. Three runs and a wicket in the over.

OUT! Harmanpreet’s woeful run with the bat continues as she holes out to Ecclestone at mid off. Glenn with the breakthrough**. Kaur c Ecclestone b Glenn 1(2)**

After 6 overs, INDW 44/2 ( Deol 12)

Sciver returns and gets smacked for two fours by Mandhana. But the England all-rounder has the last laugh as she gets the better off the left hander off the final delivery. Nine runs and a wicket off the over.

OUT! Short from Sciver and Mandhana pulls it straight to Ecclestone at square leg. After two boundaries on the trot, Sciver has the last laugh. Mandhana c Ecclestone b Sciver 29(17)

FOUR! Two in two! Again around the middle and leg stump, it was short too and Mandhana pulled it with perfection.

FOUR! Poor line, bowled down the leg side from Sciver and Mandhana just helps the ball on its way as it races away towards fine leg.

After 5 overs, INDW 35/1 ( Deol 11,  Mandhana 21)

Bowling change for England as Sophie Ecclestone, Left arm orthodox, comes into the attack. Harleen collects a single off the second. Mandhana charges down the track off the fourth and drives it through the covers to collect a brace. And she nails the slog sweep off the penultimate delivery to collect a four. Seven runs off the over.

FOUR! Mandhana gets down on one leg and slog weeps it towards deep mid wicket for a boundary.

After 4 overs, INDW 28/1 ( Deol 10,  Mandhana 15)

Bowling change for England as Freya Davies, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack. A flick of the wrist by Harleen off the third allows her to collect a four. It is followed by a double. Harleen will take strike in the next over too as she gets off the mark off the last after guiding the ball towards third man.

FOUR! Overpitched delivery from Davies and Harleen flicks it towards deep mid wicket.

After 3 overs, INDW 21/1 ( Deol 3,  Mandhana 15)

Brunt continues. Mandhana opening her arms now as she collects hammers two consecutive fours in the over. Both were superbly timed through the point region. Costly over for England, 11 runs off it.

FOUR! Two in two! Mandhana once again pierces the off side field as she guides another one through point.

FOUR! Mandhana opens the face of the blade slightly and steers it past the diving fielder at point.

After 2 over, INDW 10/1 ( Deol 2,  Mandhana 6)

Natalie Sciver, right-arm medium, comes into the attack and gets smacked for a four from the blade of Mandhana, who will have to play a key role here, given Shafali’s early departure. Seven runs off the over.

FOUR! Mandhana takes the aerial route, lofting it over mid off for the first boundary of India’s innings.

After 1 over, INDW 3/1 ( Deol 1,  Mandhana 0)

The Shafali vs Brunt battle will kickstart the proceedings in India’s chase. And it’s Brunt who emerges on top as she rattles Shafali’s stumps with a slower one off the second delivery. Just three runs off the over, two off leg byes, and a huge wicket too.

BOWLED! Huge wicket. England draw first blood. Clever change of pace from Brunt as Shafali misjudges that one completely. Shafali was expecting short delivery and it was clear when she backed away. But she ends up missing a straight one. Shafali Verma b Brunt 0(2)

Right, India openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana are out in the middle and will open for India. Brunt will begin the proceedings for England.

After 20 overs,England Women 177/7 (Ecclestone 9) 

Deepti is back. 11 runs and a wicket from it, as Brunt is run-out by Richa Ghosh, who collects the ball from Rana. India would be pleased with how they have responded with wickets in the second half of the match. England put up 177/7 on board, which means India’s target will be 178. Do join us for the chase in a few minutes’ time.

OUT! Brunt is run-out. Snegh Rana collects the ball and throws towards Richa Ghosh, who completes the dismissal.

After 19 overs,England Women 166/6 (Dunkley 1, Brunt 2) 

Shikha Pandey returns, and gets rid of Sciver (55) courtesy a fine diving catch from Harmanpret. Another wicthe dismissal of Dunkletket for Pandey in this same over, with

OUT! Sophia Dunkley’s stumped by Richa Ghosh off Pandey’s ball. How the tables have turned in the last few balls!

OUT! Brilliant, brilliant catch by Harleen Deol. In the deep, she manages on for the catch, while handling the ball carefully as she throws the ball in the air while stepping out of the boundary line. Jones (43) is out.

OUT! What a catch from Harmanpreet at long-on. Sciver departs for 55 runs as Shikha Pandey strikes! Big wicket for India and what a way to get it.

After 18 overs,England Women 159/3 ( Natalie Sciver 51 , Jones 42)

Poonam Yadav continues. Sciver gets to her 10th T20I fifty with a single, and England as well go past the 150-run mark. 10 off the over.

FIFTY! Fifty up for Nat Sciver, and it comes off just 24 balls.

After 17 overs,England Women 149/3 ( Natalie Sciver 49 , Jones 34)

Deepti continues. Jones and Sciver continue to give the visitors nightmares. A four and a six from Jones, with 13 runs off it. Sciver remains on 49.

FOUR! Punched towards extra cover as Jones gets another boundary.

After 16 overs,England Women 136/3 ( Natalie Sciver 49 , Jones 21)

Arundhati returns for her third. Sciver is on 49 after another big over for England. Three consecutive fours from her as 16 runs come off it. Partnership between Jones and Sciver is now 51.

FOUR! Smashed past the bowler as Sciver lofts this down the ground for four.

After 15 overs,England Women 120/3 ( Natalie Sciver 33 , Jones 20)

Another expensive one for India with Jones joining the party. Three fours from the wicketkeeper-batswoman as 16 runs come off it.

After 14 overs,England Women 104/3 ( Natalie Sciver 33 , Jones 4)

Poonam Yadav continues and it’s a tidy over. Just five singles from it. India will need to get rid of Sciver as soon as possible, and that could change the complexion once again.

After 13 overs,England Women 99/3 ( Natalie Sciver 31 , Jones 2)

Rana continues. It’s an expensive one with two fours from Sciver, who continues to show her class. 12 runs from it.

FOUR! Too full from Rana and Sciver punches this down the ground for a boundary. Such a flawless shot!

After 12 overs,England Women 87/3 ( Natalie Sciver 20 , Jones 1)

Deepti Sharma is back in this over, and it’s a big one for India as they see off Knight. Knight was in two minds whether to go for a single or not, but she steps out of the crease at the strikers’ end, forcing Deepti to direct the ball at the stumps. Amy Jones is the new batter. Three runs and a crucial scalp in this over.

OUT! India get the big wicket of Knight. There’s a mix-up from Knight as she steps out of the crease at the strikers’ end and Deepti directs the ball accurately towards the stumps.

After 11 overs,England Women 84/2 ( Natalie Sciver 18 , Heather Knight (C) 6)

Sneh Rana into the attack for the first time tonight. Just two runms from the over with a single each from Knight and Sciver.

After 10 overs,England Women 82/2 ( Natalie Sciver 17 , Heather Knight (C) 5)

Expensive over from Radha Yadav with 11 from it. A four from Knight and a six from Sciver in the last ball of the over. Runs keep coming for England despite minor blips. They would be the happier side at the end of the first half of innings.

After 9 overs,England Women 71/2 ( Natalie Sciver 11 , Heather Knight (C) 0)

Poonam Yadav is into the attack. Sciver times a shot to perfection as she finds the gap between deep midwicket and deep square. However, Sciver loses her partner Beaumont, and Heather Knight comes in as the new batter. Nine runs and a wicket.

OUT! Poonam Yadav strikes! Flighted ball from Poonam and Tammy Beaumont gifts this right to Mandhana at long-on.

FOUR! Confident shot from Sciver as she naiils this through midwicket. Timed the shot to perfection!

After 8 overs,England Women 62/1 ( Tammy Beaumont 16 , Natalie Sciver 5)

Radha Yadav is introduced. There’s an appeal for caught behind against Wyatt, and there’s a spike on UltraEdge. Breakthrough for India as Richa Ghosh completes the catch. Sciver is the new batter and she’s off the mark with a boundary. Six runs and a wicket.

OUT! Caught behind by Richa Ghosh! Wyatt is out. Wyatt goes for the reverse sweep, only to edge towards Richa. Original verdict was nit out, but India went for review, and there was a clear spike in UltraEdge.

After 7 overs, ENGW 56/0 (Wyatt 31, Beaumont 15) 

Spin from both ends now with Poonam Yadav being introduced. Fifty up for England with Tammy finding a couple of runs towards fine leg. Waist high no-ball from Poonam in the fifth ball but Tammy only manages a single in the free hit ball. Eight runs off the over.

After 6 overs, ENGW 48/0 (Wyatt 28, Beaumont 11) 

Change of bowling as Deepti Sharma comes into the attack. Wyatt finds the gap between backward square and square leg for a boundary. Arundhati’s efforts to save a boundary goes in vain as Wyatt found the off-side gap for another four. Brilliant powerplay for the hosts with 48 coming from the first six overs without losing a wicket.

FOUR! Wyatt drives down towards the backward square leg region,.

After 5 overs, ENGW 37/0 (Wyatt 18, Beaumont 10) 

Pandey’s back. Another expensive one with two fours in it, one each from Wyatt and Beaumont. Another nine runs off the over.

FOUR! Wyattt with her first boundary as she beats the fielder in the deep with a whopping shot over backward square

After 4 overs, ENGW 28/0 (Wyatt 10, Beaumont 13) 

Arundhati is back. Beaumont with England’s first boundary with a lofted shot over deep midwicket. Wyatt plays square off the wicket in the last ball to find three runs. Nine off the over.

FOUR! Lofts it towards deep midwicket as Beaumont brings England’s first boundary.

After 3 overs, ENGW 19/0 (Wyatt 9, Beaumont 5) 

Pandey is back. Still early to say but the Indian fielders have been great so far, with Harmanpreet making a fine save at left of mid-off. Another over without a boundary. Six runs off it.

After 2 overs, ENGW 13/0 (Wyatt 7, Beaumont 2) 

Arundhati Reddy into the attack now. Wyatt hits in the air off the second ball after getting the top edge that lands between three fielders near third man area. Radha Yadav uses her instinct to at least save the ball from running towards the boundary. Six runs from the over.

After 1 over, ENGW 7/0 (Wyatt 2, Beaumont 1) 

Shikha Pandey into the attack first up, Beaumont on strike, and Pandey begins with two wides Wyatt sneaks in for a quick single through short midwicket. Seven runs off it.

Right. Time for LIVE action as Danielle Wyatt and Tammy Beaumont walk out to open. Beaumont to take strike. Shikha Pandey to open India’s bowling.

India playing XI: Harmanpreet Kaur(Captain) Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper ),  Arundhati Reddy, Shikha Pandey, Sneh Rana, Radha Yadav, Poonam Yadav

England playing XI: Heather Knight(Captain), Tammy Beaumont, Danielle Wyatt,  Natalie Sciver,  Amy Jones(wicketkeeper), Sophia Dunkley, Katherine Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, Mady Villiers, Freya Davies

Toss update: Harmanpreet Kaur has won the coin toss and India women will field first.

India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur on Thursday attributed her prolonged lean patch with the bat to lack of preparation following her recovery from a COVID-19 infection and groin injury earlier this year.

However, the senior batter is confident of finding her mojo back in the three-match T20 series against England. 

“I’m someone who likes to give 200 percent on the field, needs a lot of time for preparation on the ground. At international level, you can’t get things easily, the mindset and approach for the game is not that easy,” said Harmanpreet. 

Find out more here.

India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur would be aiming to overcome her prolonged form slump and provide a much-needed boost to the struggling batting line-up in the opening T20 International against formidable hosts England on Friday.

England lead the multi-format series 6-4 after a drawn Test and a 2-1 score-line in ODIs.

Harmanpreet, who has not scored a fifty in the shortest format since November 2018, will have to lead from the front.

Both the openers — Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana — are in good touch but the team is expecting more consistency from them, especially from the vice-captain.

The standout performer of the tour — Sneh Rana — is set to play her first T20 since February 2016.

Click here to read the full match preview.

Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of the first T20I between England women and India women at Northampton. This will be a different Indian side, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, as Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami will watch from the sidelines having retired from the shortest format. England lead the multi-format series 6-4. Stay tuned for more updates.