India women take win

Caroline Atkins hit 54 for England © Getty Images

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England women’s brave run-chase of 232 fell in the 48th over as they were bowled out for 213 and an 18-run loss despite a half-century from Caroline Atkins and 33 from captain Charlotte Edwards in the first one-day international in Chennai.

India made 231 for six after being asked to bat first with Karu Jain (77) and Jaya Sharma (66) making the most significant contributions, the pair put on 121 for the first-wicket.

Isa Guha claimed 2-49 and was the pick of the bowlers while Beth Morgan and Newton each took a wicket and Jenny Gunn was parsimony personified with figures of nine overs for 22 runs.

England’s Laura Newton was the first batter to go as they took second use of the wicket bowled by Rumeli Dhar for 21 but Sarah Taylor joined Atkins at the wicket.

Taylor and Atkins combined in a partnership of 39 before the former was stumped trying to increase the scoring rate from the bowling of left-arm chinaman bowler Preeti Dimri for 26.

Atkins hit five fours in her 54 before being run out and Gunn followed soon after for six but captain Edwards was still there.

Edwards eventually fell for 33 as the fifth wicket went down on 144 but she had scored at almost a run-a-ball.

Claire Taylor came to the wicket when Edwards departed, she was batting lower because of feeling unwell, and she took over what Edwards had started and scored quickly.

Taylor made a rapid 24 before being caught by the wicket-keeper from the bowling of Jhulan Goswami as the eighth-wicket fell on 192 in the 46th over.

In the end Holly Colvin was the last wicket to fall run out for four which left Laura Marsh undefeated on 23.