Women's T20 World Cup: India maintain winning run, defeat Netherlands
What's the story
In the ongoing 2026 Women's T20 World Cup, India have won a second successive clash. After defeating Pakistan, the Indian women's cricket team beat Netherlands on Wednesday. India set the Dutch Women a formidable target of 210 runs at Headingley in Leeds. Openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma were instrumental in India's innings, both scoring half-centuries. In response, the Netherlands suffered a massive defeat., being bowled out for 114 in 17.3 overs.
IND innings
Mandhana, Verma lead India's charge
Mandhana, in particular, was in great form as she scored 74 runs off just 47 balls. She was well-supported by Verma, who chipped in with a quickfire 55 off 38 balls. The duo shared a massive opening stand of 115 runs which laid the foundation for India's big score. Richa Ghosh (20 not out) and Deepti Sharma (10 not out) contributed with some clean hitting toward the end of the innings. India scored 209/5 in 20 overs.
Missed opportunities
Misses chances and bowling summary of the Dutch Women
Despite having their moments, the Netherlands team failed to capitalize on chances. In the 17th over, Richa was dropped at cover. Harmanpreet Kaur was also given a reprive in the 20th over. Caroline de Lange was the top performer for her side with 2/32 from 4 overs. Myrthe van den Raad, Heather Siegers and Iris Zwilling claimed one scalp each.
Record
3rd-highest stand for IND-W in T20 WC
Mandhana and Shafali (115 runs) recorded India's 4th century-plus stand in the coveted tournament (also 3rd-highest). 100-plus stands for IND-W in T20 WC (any wicket) 134 - Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues vs NZ-W, Providence, 2018 117 - Mithali Raj, Punam Raut vs WI-W, Sylhet, 2014 115 - Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma vs NED-W, Headingley, 2026 107 - Harmanpreet Kaur, Mithali Raj vs BAN-W, Sylhet, 2014
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5th century-plus stand for the duo
Mandhana and Shafali now own 5 century-plus stands for India in Women's T20Is. All of these have come for the 1st wicket. Meanwhile, they own the most runs as a pair for India Women in T20 World Cups (502).
Mandhana
6th T20 World Cup fifty for Mandhana; 35th in WT20Is
Mandhana's 74 had 11 fours and a six. She now owns 666 T20 World Cup runs from 23 matches at 25.61. She registered her 6th fifty. Overall in the 20-over format for India, Mandhana has raced to 4,475 runs at 30.44 from 168 matches. She registered her 35th fifty (100s: 1). Notably, she surpassed 600 fours as well (604).
Shafali
Maiden T20 World Cup fifty for Shafali
Shafali's knock was laced with 10 fours. She now owns 2,783 runs for India at 27.55. She registered her 17th fifty. In the Women's T20 World Cup, Shafali has amassed 423 runs from 16 games at 26.43. She clocked her maiden fifty. Notably, she surpassed 50 fours (51).
Information
Netherlands falter in their chase of 210
Netherlands openers added 34 runs before the side kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Notably, they lost their last five wickets for a solitary run. For India, Shree Charani claimed a four-fer whereas Shafali bagged three wickets.
Records
India Women make these records
India clinched their fifth-biggest win in Women's T20Is (by runs). As per Cricbuzz, Charani became the 9th Indian bowler to bag a 4-fer in the Women's T20 World Cup. Aged 21y 317d, she's the third-youngest to do so after Radha Yadav (19y, 314d - 4/23 vs SL-W, 2020) and Priyanka Roy (21y, 103d - 5/16 vs PAK-W, 2009). Deepti Sharma claimed 1/26 from 3 overs. She equaled Jhulan Goswami for the most wickets in international cricket (355).