Richa Ghosh’s late counterattack kept India in the hunt, but England Women secured a narrow five-run victory in a closely fought ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up match
The India Women vs England Women encounter turned into a closely fought contest, with England posting a competitive total before holding off a spirited chase led by wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh.
India Women suffered a narrow five-run defeat against England Women in a warm-up fixture ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. The contest at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, offered both teams a valuable opportunity to fine-tune preparations before the start of the tournament.
England recover after early setback
After being asked to bat, England Women lost an early wicket but recovered well through a crucial partnership between Amy Jones and Nat Sciver-Brunt.
Jones anchored the innings with 64 runs, while Sciver-Brunt contributed 57 as England rebuilt steadily and maintained momentum through the middle overs.
in the India Women vs England Women warm up match, India’s bowlers managed to strike at regular intervals, but England finished on 171/6 from their 20 overs, setting up a challenging chase.
Renuka Singh, Radha Yadav, Shreyanka Patil, Shafali Verma and N Sree Charani were among the wicket-takers for India.
Richa Ghosh leads India’s fightback
In response, India Women struggled to build sustained partnerships as England’s bowlers picked up timely wickets and kept the required run rate under control.
The chase gained fresh life when Richa Ghosh launched a counterattack. The wicketkeeper-batter played an impressive innings of 68 runs from just 36 deliveries, striking boundaries regularly and putting England under pressure in the closing stages.
Her aggressive approach brought India back into contention and ensured the result remained uncertain until the final moments of the match.
Despite her efforts, India were bowled out for 166 in 19.5 overs, allowing England to secure a five-run victory.
Positives for India ahead of the World Cup
Although the India Women vs England Women warm-up fixture ended in defeat, India will take several positives from the contest.
Richa Ghosh’s batting form is a major boost ahead of the tournament, while the bowling unit showed encouraging signs against a strong England lineup.
The close finish in the India women vs England women warm up match also highlighted India’s ability to remain competitive under pressure as the team prepares for the main competition.
For England, the victory provides confidence and momentum heading into the Women’s T20 World Cup on home soil.
Valuable preparation for both teams
While the result will not impact tournament standings, the India Women vs England Women warm-up match served as an important test for two leading sides ahead of the global event.
India will look to build on the positives, particularly Richa Ghosh’s impressive innings, while England will be encouraged by their batting depth and ability to defend a competitive total under pressure.
Both teams will now shift focus to the tournament proper as they aim to make strong starts in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Also learn:
Who won the India Women vs England Women warm-up match?
England Women defeated India Women by five runs.
How many runs did Richa Ghosh score?
Richa Ghosh scored 68 runs from 36 balls.
What score did England Women make?
England Women posted 171/6 in their 20 overs.
Who were England’s top scorers?
Amy Jones scored 64 runs, while Nat Sciver-Brunt added 57.
Where was the match played?
The warm-up match was played at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, Wales.
