Team India’s batter was sensational with the bat, but the Women in Blue failed to cross the finishing line in their final warm-up match before the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. India needed 38 off 12 balls against England in Cardiff, with just three wickets in hand. However, Richa didn’t give up and went after the bowlers, smashing three boundaries and a six in the 19th over bowled by Issy Wong. The equation came down to 17 off the last over. She struck a four and a six off Linsey Smith, reducing the margin to six off three deliveries.
Richa came down the track on the next ball, and Smith saw her coming. She bowled outside the off stump, and the batter missed the ball completely, leaving Alice Capsey with an easy chance of completing the stumping. Renuka Singh was undone on the next ball, and India were bowled out for 166, five runs short of the target.
Richa amassed 68 runs off 36 balls, but her effort went in vain. However, the Indian team management would be happy considering the way Richa batted before the start of the global tournament.
“It was all about partnerships, and I think we didn’t have many. Richa played a blinder, but you need a few partnerships in T20 cricket. It was good to see how Richa batted,” India captain Harmanpreet Kaur said.
She was struggling and managed just 18 runs in three innings in the recent T20I series against England, 85 in five matches against South Africa and 189 runs in 9 WPL matches. She was unable to open her account against the West Indies in the first warm-up contest on June 8.
India will face Pakistan in their World Cup campaign opener on Sunday.
ordinary batting is a cause of concern for the team. Shafali Verma (13), (17), Yastika Bhatia (15) and Bharti Fulmali (18) got starts but gifted their wickets to England. The visitors were 132 for 7 in the 18th over, and it was Richa, who added some respectability to the total.
For England, Amy Jones (64 off 45) and Nat Sciver-Brunt (57 off 45) were the top contributors. was the pick of the bowlers, taking two wickets for 29 runs.
Dani Gibson’s unbeaten 30 off 12 deliveries took England’s total to 171 for 6, which was the difference in the end. Gibson also claimed two scalps for 17 runs and was named the Player of the Match.
India will need complete performance from the players in the T20 World Cup.