The England's women's cricket team registered a victory against India by 42 runs in the first match of the three match one-day series in Scarborough on Thursday.
The game between India and England was a rain-affected one with the home side eventually prevailing thanks to vice-captain Heather Knight, who put in a fine all-round show by scoring 53 and taking three wickets. Batting first, India were restricted to 193 for the loss of eight wickets, after the match had been reduced to 47 overs each.
In the fifth over of England's chase the heavens opened up. This meant that their target was brought down to 184 in 42 overs. After a second rain interruption, when England were 153 for three in over number 30, the game was awarded to the home side, with the Duckworth/Lewis method handing England a 42-run victory.
The England side never looked in any difficulty throughout their chase. Their skipper Charlotte Edwards and vice-captain Knight began in a thunderous manner racking up 44 runs in five overs. Edwards and Knight went hammer and tongs at the Indian bowling with the away team having no answers in the face of this assault. After the rain, Edwards and Knight appeared to relent a bit, but their earlier assault had seen to it England would not face any problems.
Edwards and Knight went on to make 57 and 53 respectively. Edwards' dismissal at the hands of left-arm spinner Ekta Bisht in the 20th over saw wicket-keeper Sarah Taylor join Knight at the crease with England's score on 110. Knight and Taylor added 17 more runs before right-arm off-spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad had Knight caught by Vellswamy Vanitha.
Taylor, along with Lauren Winfield, added a few more before Winfield got out. In the end, with England at 153 for three in the 31st over, the heavens opened up. The brisk start given by Edwards and Knight meant England were always ahead of the run rate and as a result they won.
Earlier, batting first, India could only post 193. Left-hander Smriti Mandhana top-scored with 74. India appeared to be doing well as they were 154 for four as over number 40 commenced. Thereafter they fell away. Run outs and Knight's off-spin saw them not get to 200. The fact that India could make only 39 runs in the final seven overs hurt them in the end.
