Women's T20 World Cup: Mandhana, Shafali shine as India crush Netherlands by record margin

India women continued their victorious run in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, with a massive 95-run win against Netherlands on Wednesday, June 17, at Headingley, Leeds. After being put in to bat first, India posted their highest score in T20 World Cup history of 209/5 in their allotted 20 overs.

Smriti Mandhana registered her second successive half-century, while Shafali Varma (55 off 38) also contributed by scoring her maiden fifty in the T20 World Cup. In the second innings, Netherlands were never truly in the chase and were eventually bundled out for 114 in 17.3 overs.

Shree Charani was the pick of the bowlers for the Women in Blue with a four-wicket haul, while Shafali (3/20, 3.2 overs) also chipped in with three wickets.

As a result, India registered their biggest victory in Women’s T20 World Cup (95 runs), and climbed to the top of the Group A points table. 

Top run-scorer of the Match

Top wicket-taker of the Match

Player of the Match

Smriti Mandhana was adjudged Player of the Match for scoring her second successive half-century in the tournament. She scored 74 (47) with the help of 11 fours and a six, stitching a massive 115-run opening stand off 70 balls with Shafali Verma.

Turning Point

Netherlands were sloppy in the field as they dropped several catches and weren’t proactive on most occasions, which allowed India to run away with the game. They even missed a chance to run out Mandhana on 32 with the throw coming to the wrong end. The India opener made full use of the reprieve and punished the Dutch bowlers with the wrath of her willow.

What did the captains say:

Winning Captain, Harmanpreet Kaur (India women):  

We were really good with the bat. Wasn't that easy a wicket. The way Smriti and Shafali batted, gave us a really good platform. Credit to them. She's someone who's really keen to bowl. Always ready whenever the team needs. Hopefully she'll become a great allrounder in the future. Right now I don't have a clear update (on Shreyanka). We're in a very good situation. Whatever we wanted to achieve in these two games, we've done that. Kranti is someone who is always bowling for us. Nandni has got very good experience from WPL. She's using her experience here and good to see her getting breakthroughs in the powerplay.

Losing Captain, Babette de Leede (Netherlands women):

(On India’s batting performance and the effort in the field) I think India batted really well, especially up front. I think we had a great comeback with the ball because I think they were around 100 after 10 overs and only scored 210 in the end. I think on this flat wicket, we had a chance. We didn’t quite get it right. (On dropped catches and fielding standards) Yeah, I think our fielding can be a little bit better, especially the catching, as you said. I think also the bowling — we bowled quite a lot of extras. So those are all controllables which we can work on and improve for the next game. (On de Lange's bowling performance) Yeah, definitely. She had some great breakthroughs in the first game as well, so it’s really pleasing to see that. (On the batting chase) I think we never really got going. We lost too many wickets along the way again, just like in our first game. I think India bowled very well and very smart. They played clever cricket, which we can learn a lot from, so it’s a great learning for us. (On facing India for the first time in Women’s T20 Internationals) I think it’s very special to play against India, as you said, a top team in the world, with our friends and family here in the stands. I think it’s super special and it’s something I’outside the leg-stump always remember.