‌England Women kept the five-match T20I series alive as they beat India by five runs in the third game at The Oval in London on Saturday. Openers Sophia Dunkley and Dani Wyatt-Hodge scored half-centuries to power England to a formidable 171/9 in 20 overs with Smriti Mandhana’s fifty headlining India’s response as they fell short in a nail-biting thriller. With that win, the England Women made it 2-1 with two more matches to go in the series.

Opting to bat first, the England openers put on an authoritative 137-run partnership in just 92 balls to set the tone for England’s big first innings total. But once Dunkley departed after scoring seven fours and a six for a 53-ball 75, the Indian women came roaring back into the match. Pacer Arundhati Reddy’s triple strike in her final over pegged England back as the hosts could manage just 25 runs in the last four overs losing eight wickets. Wyatt-Hodge hit seven fours and three sixes during her knock of 66 off 42 balls while Reddy ended with impressive figures of 3/32 with off-spinner Deepti Sharma also ending with three wickets.

In response, India showed promise as the in-form Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma put on 85 for the first wicket in just nine overs. But once Shafali departed, the scoring gradually came down despite quick cameos from Jemimah Rodrigues (20 off 15) and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (23 off 17). With Mandhana anchoring the innings with her 49-ball 56, which included 10 fours, the Indian innings could reach only 166/5 as the visitors failed to chase down 20 runs in the final two overs. Pacer Lauren Filer took 2/30 while Lauren Bell, Issy Wong and Sophie Ecclestone ended with a wicket apiece.

Just Wow!

A spectacular effort by Lauren Bell, but she just tumbles on the wrong side of the boundary 🫣



Watch #ENGWvINDW 3️⃣nd T20I LIVE NOW on #SonyLIV & Sony Sports Network pic.twitter.com/LnxvXHjO7k

— Sony LIV (@SonyLIV) July 4, 2025

That's Incredible!

🏏 England Women vs India – 3rd T20I 🇬🇧🇮🇳



Overs 1–5: 34/0

Overs 6–10: 48/0

Overs 11–15: 54/0

Overs 16–20: 35/9 😲



From 136/0 to 171/9 — A dramatic collapse in the last 5 overs!

Incredible fightback by the Indian bowlers 💥🔥#ENGWvINDW #WomensCricket

— Surajit debnath (@Surajit32741315) July 5, 2025

RCB batters!

Half-centuries for both RCB openers in the ongoing ENG v IND T20I series 🤝❤️#PlayBold #SheIsBold #ENGWvINDW #RCBFCN #RCBNepal | @Danni_Wyatt @mandhana_smriti pic.twitter.com/hA3wP94xwi

— RCB Fan Club Nepal (@rcbnepal) July 5, 2025

True!

why noone is talking about how @BCCIWomen bottled an easy chase after fantastic start#ENGWvINDW

— 🇦.🇷.🇯.🇺.🇳 🇮🇳 (@karjunr) July 5, 2025

Yeah!

Same old habit of India Women - Loosing the Match from a winning position...#ENGvsIND #ENGWvINDW

— Harsh Khunteta (@tweetsHK24) July 4, 2025

Classic!

Smriti Mandhana never fails to deliver 🫶



Ek aur classy knock, ek aur fabulous 5️⃣0️⃣ 🙌



Watch #ENGWvINDW 3️⃣nd T20I LIVE NOW on #SonyLIV & Sony Sports Network pic.twitter.com/v01xsJoDz0

— Sony LIV (@SonyLIV) July 4, 2025

Thriller!

What a match🤯, just happened between India Women vs England women #ENGWvINDW

— Cricket _talks (@Cric_nzz) July 4, 2025

Needed

That was a nervy eng but back in it. Catching practice needed #ENGWvINDW

— Tom (@RedDogNF) July 4, 2025

Poor Fielding!

Very poor fielding this from ENGW when the series is on the line worstttt #ENGvsIND #ENGWvINDW

— Shiva (@shivapotru) July 4, 2025

Superb Catch!

CHARLIE DEAN. YOU CANNOT DO THAT 🤯 pic.twitter.com/bkYNx3qVnK

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 4, 2025