England’s decision to bat first on Tuesday night backfired as Indian bowlers upped their performance to reduce the hosts to 54 for five from 10 overs.
England found it difficult in the early overs, losing wickets at regular intervals before the teen Freya Kemp (51 from 37 balls) and Maia Bouchier (34 from 26) shared 65 runs for the sixth wicket to resurrect their innings.
While 17-year-old Kemp hit three fours and as many sixes on her running back, Bouchier decorated her innings with four limits.
But once Rana broke the dangerous partnership, taking Bouchier’s wicket puzzled by Richa Ghosh in the 18th, the writing was on the wall for England.
.@mandhana_smriti wins player of the match award for tremendous undefeated 7⃣9⃣ as #TeamIndia beats Engl… https://t.co/qBmOEZKN4N
— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) 1663099526000
Kemp, however, did his best for his level and used his long grip wisely to pick up 23 points from the remaining 15 balls in the company of Sophie Eclestone to bring England to 142 for six and give their bowlers at least something to defend against.
Rana was India’s chief wrecker, returning with handsome 3-for-24 numbers from his four overs, while Renuka Singh (1/30) and Deepti Sharma (1/21) picked up two wickets at the top.
India started its hunt in a good way with Mandhana (79 not from 53) and Shafali Verma (20) adding 55 runs in the first six overs.
Ecclestone finally got the breakthrough for England when Verma turned back to the bowler, who dived to his right to complete a nice caught-and-played opportunity.
Dayalan Hemalatha (9) disappointed again as Freya Davies cleared it 16 balls later.
Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (29 from 22) then joined her assistant Mandhana at the crease and the pair played effortlessly, stitching up an unbeaten 69 runs for the third wicket to complete the formalities as India 146 for two in 16.4 overs.
In fact, Mandhana hit three bounds off Davies in the 17th – first smashing back covers, then creaming through the midwicket, then finishing the chase with a slamming shot over the bowler’s head until to the long term.
There were no sixes in the Indian batting game, but Mandhana found the fence 13 times, while Harmanpreet and Verma scored four boundaries apiece.
It was an ordinary bowling display from the home side as Ecclestone (1/22) and Davies (1/30) were the only two wicket takers.
England had won the first match by nine wickets. The third T20 of the three-match series will be played in Bristol on September 15.
Short scores:
England Women:142 for 6 overs in 20 (Freya Kemp 51 not out, Maia Bouchier 34; Sneh Rana 3/24)
Indian women: 146 for 2 in 16.4 overs (Smriti Mandhana 79 not out, Harmanpreet Kaur 29 not out; Sophie Ecclestone 1/22)