India Women Defeats Netherlands by 95 Runs in T20 World Cup 2026

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Thursday, 18 June 2026

India Women continued their impressive run in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 with a commanding 95-run victory over the Netherlands at Headingley on Thursday. After securing a convincing win against Pakistan in their opening match, India delivered another dominant all-round performance to remain unbeaten in Group 1. Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma laid the foundation with a record-breaking opening partnership before the bowlers dismantled the Dutch batting line-up to secure India's second successive victory of the tournament.

Key Highlights

• Smriti Mandhana scored 74 as India posted a record 209/5
• Shafali Verma starred with 55 runs and three wickets
• Shree Charani claimed 4/19 as the Netherlands were bowled out for 114

India’s batting unit once again showcased its strength as the team registered 209/5 in 20 overs, the highest total in the nation’s Women’s T20 World Cup history. The innings was built around a superb 115-run opening partnership between Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, which provided the perfect platform for a formidable score.

Smriti continued her excellent form with a fluent 74 off 47 deliveries, striking boundaries with confidence and maintaining the momentum throughout her stay at the crease. The Indian vice-captain recorded her second half-century of the tournament and played a key role in guiding the innings during the middle overs.

At the other end, Shafali Verma produced an aggressive knock of 55 from 38 balls. Her attacking approach put the Netherlands under pressure from the outset and helped India reach the 100-run mark inside 11 overs. The opening stand became one of India's highest partnerships in Women’s T20 World Cup history and set the tone for the remainder of the innings.

Although India briefly lost momentum after the departures of both openers, contributions from Harmanpreet Kaur, Richa Ghosh, and Deepti Sharma ensured a strong finish. Ghosh struck an unbeaten 20 from just eight deliveries, while Deepti hammered a six and a four from the final two balls she faced. The late flourish yielded 19 runs from the last over and lifted India beyond the 200-run mark for the first time in Women’s T20 World Cup history.

The Netherlands faced an enormous challenge in pursuit of 210 and never managed to establish a sustained partnership. Heather Siegers and Phebe Molkenboer provided a steady start, but India’s bowlers quickly tightened their grip on the contest.

Nandani Sharma claimed an important breakthrough to end the opening stand, while Deepti Sharma removed Molkenboer to keep the pressure firmly on the Dutch side. Netherlands captain Babette de Leede attempted to anchor the chase with 28 runs, but wickets continued to fall at regular intervals.

From a relatively stable position at 96/4, the Dutch innings unravelled dramatically. The lower order struggled against India’s disciplined bowling attack, and the team lost its final six wickets for only 18 runs.

Shree Charani emerged as the standout performer with the ball, finishing with exceptional figures of 4/19. Her decisive spell dismantled the middle and lower order, including a brilliant 17th over in which she claimed three wickets.

Shafali Verma capped off a memorable all-round display by taking 3/20, cleaning up the tail and helping bowl the Netherlands out for 114 in 17.3 overs.