Smriti Mandhana's brilliant century powered India to a dominant 97-run victory over England in the first T20I at Trent Bridge on Saturday. Mandhana's knock of 112 off 62 balls, her maiden T20I century, helped India post a formidable total of 210/5, which proved too much for the hosts. This win marks England's first defeat under their new head coach, Charlotte Edwards.

India suffered a blow before the match as captain Harmanpreet Kaur was ruled out due to a head injury sustained during a warm-up game. This resulted in Mandhana stepping in as captain and leading the team from the front. Mandhana's aggressive intent was clear from the start, as she began finding the boundary with regularity. While Shafali Verma initially struggled to find her rhythm, Mandhana took charge and accelerated the scoring.

The turning point of the innings came in the seventh over when Mandhana launched an assault on Sophie Ecclestone, hitting her for two sixes and a four, which resulted in 19 runs coming off the over. Mandhana reached her fifty soon after and continued her onslaught, forming a strong partnership with Harleen Deol after Verma was dismissed.

Mandhana continued to accelerate, eventually reaching her century off 51 balls. She became the first Indian woman to score a century in all three international formats – Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. Her innings included 15 fours and three sixes, showcasing her dominance over the England bowlers. After Mandhana was dismissed in the final over, India finished on 210/5, their highest-ever T20I score against England.

In response, England struggled to build partnerships and were eventually bowled out for 113 in 14.5 overs. Nat Sciver-Brunt was the only batter to offer any resistance, scoring 66 off 42 balls. Debutant Shree Charani was the pick of the Indian bowlers, taking four wickets for just 12 runs. Spinners Radha Yadav and Deepti Sharma also chipped in with two wickets each.

England's batting woes against spin were exposed once again, as the Indian spinners wreaked havoc. Charani's impressive debut, along with the contributions from the other spinners, ensured that England never really threatened to chase down the target.

Mandhana's performance not only secured a comprehensive victory for India but also marked a personal milestone in her career. Her ability to convert her T20I fifties into a century finally came to fruition, solidifying her place as a key player in the Indian team.

The win gives India a 1-0 lead in the five-match series, with the next game scheduled to be held in Bristol.