England women humble India women by 42 runs in 1st ODI

Scarborough: Fine fifties from skipper Charlotte Edwards and Heather Knight helped England women outplay their Indian counterparts by 42 runs via Duckworth-Lewis method in the first rain-hit one-dayer here today.

Chasing a revised target of 184 in 42 overs, England were 153 for three in 30.1 overs when rain intervened for one final time and the hosts were found to be well above their re-revised target of 112 in 30.1 overs to earn a vital 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

The England openers laid a solid foundation with a 110-run partnership in 121 balls before Charlotte (57) was cleaned up by left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht (1-20).

Heather (53) fell soon after as off-spinner Shivanand Rajeshwari (1-17) did the trick for the visitors. Sarah Taylor (21 not out) and Lauren Winfield (15) then stuck it out for 21 quick runs as England galloped towards victory.

Lauren was scalped by pace spearhead Jhulan Goswami (1-21) but Sarah and Lydia Greenway (1 not out) made sure that the hosts had no other hiccups even as rain forced the match officials to call the curtains.

Earlier put into bat, India rode opener Smriti Mandhana's 74 to post 193 for eight in 47 overs after three overs were reduced from the stipulated 50 post a rain interruption in the 18th over of the innings.

Skipper Mithali Raj contributed with 34 runs as Vellaswamy Vanitha (27) and debutant Shikha Pandey (21 not out) were the other batswoman to get into double figures.

Woman of the Match Heather managed to pick 3 wickets with her medium pace while Anya Shrubsole (2-47) and Jenny Gunn (1-36) also chipped in with crucial breakthrough's.

The two teams next meet on Saturday for the second ODI at the same venue.

Brief Scores: India Women 193/8 in 47 overs (Smriti Mandhana 74, Mithali Raj 34; Heather Knight 3-28) England Women 153/3 in 30.1 - target 112 in 30.1 overs (Charlotte Edwards 57, Heather Knight 53; Ekta Bisht 1-20, Shivanand Rajeshwari 1-17, Jhulan Goswami 1-21).