India produced another commanding performance on Wednesday, defeating the Netherlands by 95 runs to register back-to-back victories in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma laid the foundation with a superb opening stand before Nandini Sharma and Shree Charani starred with the ball to complete a comprehensive win.
The victory was significant not only because it strengthened India’s semi-final hopes but also because it propelled them to the top of the Group A standings. India now boast a net run rate of 3.98, edging past Australia’s 3.88, a development that will give Harmanpreet Kaur’s side plenty of confidence ahead of their crucial clash against South Africa on June 20.
However, the win was tempered by concern over Shreyanka Patil, who suffered a freak ankle injury during the Netherlands innings and had to be stretchered off the field. India will be anxiously awaiting updates on her condition. As for the Netherlands, the defeat marked their second loss on the trot, leaving them still in search of their maiden victory in Women’s T20 World Cup history.
SHAFALI FINDS HER FEET
Before the match, all eyes were on Shafali Verma, who had been struggling for runs. However, after India were asked to bat first, the opener silenced her critics with a sparkling 34-ball half-century. Remarkably, despite making her Women’s T20 World Cup debut in 2020, it took Shafali 17 innings to register her maiden fifty in the tournament.
India vs Netherlands, Women’s T20 World Cup: Updates | Scorecard
Shafali and Smriti Mandhana laid the foundation for India’s innings with an explosive start, helping the team race to 59 without loss in the Powerplay. Shafali eventually fell for 54 to Heather Siegers and would have been disappointed not to convert her start into a bigger score. Nevertheless, she had already done the damage, stitching together a commanding 115-run opening partnership with Mandhana off just 70 deliveries.
The innings should do wonders for Shafali’s confidence, especially with India set to face the 2024 runners-up South Africa in their next Group A fixture. India had been grappling with concerns over the form of both Shafali and Mandhana, but with the opening pair finding their rhythm, the team management will be relieved heading into the crucial phase of the tournament.
SMRITI GOES IN HER MERRY WAY
While Shafali starred at the top, Smriti Mandhana picked up from where she had left off against Pakistan. The left-hander started cautiously, taking time to assess the conditions, but once she settled in, she shifted through the gears with ease. Mandhana brought up her half-century off 36 balls before taking the attack to the Netherlands bowlers.
The highlight of her innings came in the 15th over when she tore into Silver Siegers, smashing four consecutive boundaries to put India firmly in control. She followed it up with another boundary off Caroline de Lange in the next over and looked well on course for her second T20I century. However, against the run of play, De Lange had the last laugh as Mandhana mistimed a lofted shot and picked out Iris Zwilling in the field.
Mandhana’s 74 off 47 balls, which included 11 fours and a six, proved instrumental in helping India breach the 200-run mark for the first time in Women’s T20 World Cup history. After enduring a lean run during the bilateral series against England, the stylish opener appears to have rediscovered her touch at the perfect time for India.
RICHA PULLS OFF ANOTHER FINISHING ACT
Richa Ghosh had also been struggling for form, but her impactful knock in the warm-up match against England appears to have restored her confidence. She carried that momentum into India’s clash against Pakistan, where she played a superb unbeaten 34-run cameo in the death overs.
On Wednesday, Richa once again showcased her power-hitting prowess. After Smriti Mandhana’s dismissal, India briefly lost momentum as Jemimah Rodrigues and Yastika Bhatia, who came into the side in place of Bharti Fulmali, departed in quick succession. However, Richa ensured there was no slowdown, smashing an unbeaten 20 off just eight deliveries to provide the finishing flourish.
Deepti Sharma then helped India breach the 200-run mark with a six off Iris Zwilling before adding a boundary, taking the total to a formidable 209/6. For the Netherlands, Caroline de Lange was the standout performer with figures 4-0-32-2.
The Dutch, however, were let down by their discipline, conceding 14 wides and a no-ball. Myrthe van den Raad endured a particularly difficult outing, bowling a 12-ball over that included six wides in her opening over.
NANDNI, CHARANI ROCK NETHERLANDS
Once India crossed the 200-run mark, they were always firm favourites to seal the contest. Heather Siegers and Phebe Molkenboer provided the Netherlands with a steady start, adding 34 runs for the opening wicket, but India never allowed the chase to gain any real momentum.
Much of the attention was on Nandini Sharma, who came into the side in place of Arundhati Reddy, and the seamer delivered a strong performance. Despite conceding 10 runs in her opening over and being greeted with a boundary at the start of her second, Nandini bounced back impressively to dismiss Siegers and later removed Babette de Leede, who was coming off a half-century against Bangladesh. She finished with figures of 2 for 22 from her three overs.
Shree Charani was equally impressive, returning outstanding figures of 4 for 19 and even finding herself on a hat-trick at one stage. The left-arm spinner recently climbed to No. 2 in the ICC ODI bowling rankings and once again underlined her growing reputation.
Powered by the efforts of Nandini and Charani, India restricted the Netherlands to 114. For the Dutch, Heather Siegers (21), Phebe Molkenboer (15), Babette de Leede (28) and Sterre Kalis (18) got starts, but none were able to convert them into a substantial score.
More to follow
– Ends
