Top-order batswomen Raut (86), Mandhana (90) and Raj (71) score significantly as India beat hosts England by 35 runs in Women's World Cup opener
India opener Smriti Mandhana hits one over the fence en route her 72-ball 90 against England in Derby on Saturday. Pic/Getty Images
India women's cricket team launched their campaign at the ICC Women's World Cup with a comfortable 35-run win over England, riding on superb batting display by the top-order, here on Saturday.
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Put into bat, Smriti Mandhana struck a sizzling 90 off 72 balls in a dominating batting display as India posted an imposing 281-3 after being asked to bat.
Mandhana forged a 144-run opening wicket stand with Poonam Raut (86 off 134) before skipper Mithali Raj (71) completed an unprecedented seventh consecutive half century in ODIs.
India then returned to dismiss England for 246 with 15 balls to spare to make a resounding start to their World Cup campaign at the County Ground here.
It is India's first win over England in five years as they had all lost all six previous matches to the hosts.
Chasing 282 to win, England failed to build partnership with middle-order batswoman Fran Wilson (81 off 102) emerging as the highest scorer. Her run out proved to be the turning point of the game as England was cruising when she was at the crease.
Seven No. of consecutive ODI fifties scored by India skipper Mithali Raj, the most by a women cricketer. She has also scored the most number of ODI half-centuries (47)
Brief scores
India 281-3 in 50 overs (S Mandhana 90, P Raut 86, M Raj 71; H Knight 2-41) beat England 246 in 47.3 overs (F Wilson 81, H Knight 46; D Sharma 3-43, S Pandey 2-35) by 35 runs
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