England beat India by 6 wickets, clinch T20I series 2-1 in Taunton
Synopsis
From 53/3 to a series-sealing six-wicket win — Alice Capsey's 43-ball 82 and Heather Knight's unbeaten 70 powered England's highest T20I chase since 2018, sinking India by 2-1 in Taunton just nine days before the Women's T20 World Cup. India's death-overs struggles, just 48 runs in the last five, are a worrying World Cup signal.
Key Takeaways
England beat India by 6 wickets in the third T20I at Taunton on 3 June to seal the series 2-1 .
Alice Capsey ( 82 off 43 ) and Heather Knight ( 70* off 42 ) added 137 runs to rescue England from 53/3 .
It was England's highest T20I chase since 2018 , completed in 18.3 overs .
Harmanpreet Kaur top-scored for India with an unbeaten 56 ; Yastika Bhatia made 32 .
India scored only 48 runs in the final five overs to finish at 180/5 .
The Women's T20 World Cup begins on 12 June .
England beat India by six wickets in the third and final Women's T20I at Taunton on 3 June, sealing the series 2-1 just days before the Women's T20 World Cup begins on 12 June. A blazing 137-run stand between Alice Capsey and skipper Heather Knight rescued the hosts from 53/3 and powered them to 184/4 in 18.3 overs — England's highest T20I chase since 2018.
Capsey-Knight stand turns the chase
Chasing 181, England lost their top order inside the Powerplay. Kranti Goud castled Danni Wyatt-Hodge in the second over, Arundhati Reddy dismissed Sophia Dunkley in the third, and Kranti returned to remove Amy Jones at the end of the Powerplay, leaving the hosts wobbling at 53/3.
What followed was a counterattack of intent. Capsey brought up her half-century off just 26 balls, while Knight matched the tempo at the other end, milking the Indian spinners for boundaries. Capsey's assault on Shree Charani — a four and back-to-back sixes — left England needing only 28 off the last five overs.
Capsey falls, Knight finishes it
Capsey eventually departed for a 43-ball 82, but the contest was effectively over. Knight remained unbeaten on 70 off 42, sealing the win with a boundary in the penultimate over to hand England a series-levelling, then series-clinching, statement before the global event.
India's batting effort falls short
Batting first, India lost openers Shafali Verma (11) and Smriti Mandhana, the latter trapped lbw by Charlie Dean. Yastika Bhatia kept the scoreboard ticking with seven boundaries before being run out for 32, with India racing to 57 inside the Powerplay.
Jemimah Rodrigues and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur rebuilt the innings before Lauren Bell deceived Rodrigues with a slower ball that crashed into the stumps. Harmanpreet finished unbeaten on 56, but India managed only 48 runs in the final five overs to close at 180/5.
What it means for the World Cup
The result hands England momentum heading into the Women's T20 World Cup starting 12 June, and exposes India's death-bowling and finishing concerns. With both sides expected to be among the title contenders, the Taunton chase will sit at the back of every team analyst's mind in the weeks ahead.
Brief scores: England Women 184/4 in 18.3 overs (Alice Capsey 82, Heather Knight 70*; Arundhati Reddy 2-31) beat India 180/5 in 20 overs (Harmanpreet Kaur 56*, Yastika Bhatia 32; Lauren Bell 2-36) by 6 wickets.
Point of View
Meanwhile, found exactly the middle-order template they needed: Capsey's aggression paired with Knight's stabilising tempo. With the World Cup nine days away, India's death-bowling thinness and finishing dip are the bigger story than England's chase. Headline numbers say 2-1; the underlying read says India have work to do before 12 June.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the third Women's T20I between India and England?
England beat India by six wickets in the third and final T20I at Taunton on 3 June, sealing the series 2-1. Alice Capsey scored 82 and Heather Knight remained unbeaten on 70 to power the chase.
How big was the Capsey-Knight partnership?
Alice Capsey and Heather Knight added 137 runs for the fourth wicket after England slumped to 53/3 in the Powerplay. The stand drove England's highest successful T20I chase since 2018.
What was India's total and who top-scored?
India posted 180/5 in 20 overs, with captain Harmanpreet Kaur top-scoring with an unbeaten 56. Yastika Bhatia contributed a brisk 32 before being run out.
When does the Women's T20 World Cup begin?
The Women's T20 World Cup begins on 12 June, just over a week after this series. Both India and England are considered among the title contenders heading into the tournament.
Which Indian bowlers stood out in the third T20I?
Kranti Goud picked up two early wickets including Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Amy Jones, while Arundhati Reddy finished with 2 for 31. However, neither could check the Capsey-Knight counterattack.
