NEW DELHI: India fell just four runs short in a crucial Women’s World Cup clash against England, a result that left both players and fans heartbroken. The defeat came despite a strong start to the chase, with Smriti Mandhana’s fluent 88 putting India in control before a sudden collapse turned the game England’s way.

Reflecting on the loss, Mandhana admitted her dismissal was the turning point and took full responsibility for it.

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“The collapse started from me so I will take it on me that the shot selection should have been better. We just needed six per over. Maybe we should have taken the game deeper,” Mandhana said.

India were comfortably placed when Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur were batting, with the asking rate well under control. But once Mandhana mistimed a shot over the covers, England grabbed the momentum and didn’t let go.

“I was trying to aim more over covers. I mistimed that shot,” she admitted. “I just needed to be more patient because throughout the innings I was trying to tell myself to be patient and not play aerial shots. But maybe the emotions took over for that one, which never helps in cricket.”

Her dismissal triggered a late-order stutter as India fell agonizingly short of their target of 289.