England Women win thriller under the lights to keep series alive

England Women 171-9 beat India Women 166-5 by five runs

England Women stayed alive in their Vitality IT20 series against India, taking the honours in a close and dramatic encounter under the lights at the Kia Oval.

A see-sawing affair saw momentum shift back and forth throughout the game, with India eventually needing 12 off Lauren Bell's final over and six off the final ball. Bell held her nerve to dismiss Harmanpreet Kaur and seal the win for England, by a margin of five runs.

It represented something of a comeback for the hosts with the ball, with India looking to be easing to a series victory before Lauren Filer's pace opened up the game in the last 10 overs.

The match had started strongly for England. After stand-in captain Tammy Beaumont won the toss and opted to bat, opening pair Danni Wyatt-Hodge (66) and Player of the Match Sophia Dunkley (75) put on 137 for the first wicket.

In pursuit of quick runs the rest of England's order were unable to build on those foundations though, adding just 34 runs across the last five overs for the loss of nine wickets.

England's total at the break felt light of where it could have been, and Mandhana and Shafali Verma set about proving that right, putting on a stand of 86 inside nine overs.

But when Verma departed England responded well. Filer's pace and bounce saw off both Jemimah Rodrigues and Mandhana and swung the game back in her side's favour, with Charlie Dean's superb catch at deep backward-square to dismiss Richa Ghosh taking the game even deeper.

Sophie Ecclestone and Issy Wong bowled the 18th and 19th over to get the fans on the edge of their seats, and Lauren Bell did the rest in the final over to keep England alive heading to Emirates Old Trafford.

Audio from Sophia Dunkley's post-match press conference is available here.

England Women v India Women - Vitality IT20 series

Saturday June 28: 1st Vitality IT20, India Women won by 97 runs - Trent Bridge
Tuesday July 1: 2nd Vitality IT20, India Women won by 24 runs - Seat Unique Stadium, Bristol
Friday July 4: 3rd Vitality IT20, England Women won by five runs, the Kia Oval
Wednesday July 9: 4th Vitality IT20, England Women v India Women, Emirates Old Trafford, 18.30
Saturday July 12: 5th Vitality IT20, England Women v India Women, Edgbaston, 18.35