Half-centuries from opener Smriti Mandhana, captain Harmanpreet Kaur and wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia powered India to a seven-wicket win over England in the first ODI held in Hove on Sunday.
With this, India has a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. England posted a rather disappointing 227/7 in their 50 overs, with Alice Davidson-Richards (50) and Danni Wyatt (43) being the top scorers. Deepti Sharma took a remarkable 2/33 with the ball. Chasing 221, fifties from Mandhana (91), Harmanpreet (74) and Yastika (50) helped India brush off the English challenge with 34 balls to spare. Chasing 221, India faced an early hiccup after opener Shafali Verma was dismissed for just one run by pacer Kate Cross after her flick attempt went into the hands of a fielder at the midwicket region. India was 1/3 at this point.
After that, opener Smriti Mandhana and wicketkeeper-batter Yastika Bhatia pushed the innings into another gear with their aggressive intent, hunting every ball that they could. They helped their side cross the 50-run mark in nine overs and also developed a fifty-run stand.
After the mandatory powerplay in 10 overs, India stood firm at 59/1, with Yastika (25) and Smriti (27).
The hosts’ search for wickets continued as the duo kept the scoreboard running with healthy mix of strike rotation and boundaries. Bhatia brought her half-century in just 45 balls after a lucky inside edge that went for four.
Charlie Dean broke up the 96-run stand between the duo, as the offspinner’s delivery went through the gap between bat and pad and hit the top of off stump. Bhatia was back for a well-made 50 off 47 balls. India was at 99/2.
The next batter was skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. She carried from where the previous partnership left off, providing valuable support to Mandhana, who also completed her fifty. Mandhana was looking well on course towards her century, but top-edged a swipe aimed over the midwicket region, giving Davidson-Richards a catch at mid-on that ended the 99-run stand between Mandhana and Kaur. Cross got Mandhana, out for 91 off 99 balls as her second scalp. India was at 198/3.
Harleen Deol was the next batter up. The batters continued whatever was left of the chase. Kaur brought. Kaur brought up her half-century in 80 balls. India finished the innings on a winning note at 232/3 in 44.2 overs, with Kaur (74) and Deol (6). Kate Cross finished as the best English bowler with 2/43.
Earlier, India women restricted England to a paltry score of 227 at the end of 50 overs after inviting the hosts to bat first, winning the toss at the Hove County ground on Sunday.