Despite the win, concerns still remain surrounding England’s inability to perform under pressure because although they scraped over the line, this came when the series was already lost, in stark contrast to the disappointment of the fourth T20 when a win was needed to keep themselves alive.
India appeared to take their eye off the ball with their most sloppy performance in the field yet, with Shree Charani dropping a simple chance at short fine leg when Wyatt-Hodge was on five in the second over and another straightforward chance with Jones on seven which would have piled the pressure on earlier in the closing stages.
Their debutant, 21-year-old seamer Kranti Goud, started the innings with three consecutive wides to gift England some early momentum and Wyatt-Hodge and Dunkley pounced, cruising to 57-0 after the six-over powerplay as India’s bowlers strayed both sides of the wicket – with Yadav’s miserly spell of 1-20 the exception.
Wyatt-Hodge reached her half-century from 30 balls, and Dunkley fell four runs short of her own when she was bowled by Yadav in the 11th over.
There was a sense of déjà vu from the third T20 at The Oval – where England lost 9-32 after an opening stand of 137 – when Wyatt-Hodge was caught at mid-off in the following over, and though India rallied to take the game to the final over, Beaumont’s counter-attacking knock from 20 balls took them to within touching distance.
But amid the chaos she was bowled by a low full toss, Yadav’s full-length dive on the boundary got rid of Jones for 10 before Ecclestone and Scholfield pushed hard to run three from the fourth ball which proved decisive.
Though they held their nerve, England can be under no illusions – they have largely been outplayed, with both wins coming in unconvincing style, while India’s confidence will be soaring as they approach three crucial encounters in the longer format.