LONDON, CMC – India produced a stunning upset to beat England by 35 runs and headline the opening day of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup here yesterday.
Playing in Derby, India amassed 281 for three off their 50 overs, after they were sent in, with Player-of-the-Match Smriti Mandhana top-scoring with 90, Punam Raut getting 86 and stylish stroke-maker and captain Mithali Raj gathering an unbeaten 71. Captain Heather Knight claimed two for 41 with her off-spin.
When England batted, they were limited to 246 all out of 47.3 overs with 19-year-old off-spinner Deepti Sharma claiming three for 47 and seamer Shikha Pandey picking up two for 35.
Frances Wilson top-scored with 81 off 75 balls – her maiden One-Day International half- century – but she was one of four run outs in the innings as India’s fielding effort kept England in check.
Captain Heather Knight was the only other useful contributor with 46 but it was her run out – via a superb direct hit by Kaur off her own bowling at 134 for four in the 32nd over – which dented the hosts’ chances.
Mandhana and fellow opener Raut had earlier put India in command with a 144-run first wicket stand.
The 20-year-old Mandhana struck 11 fours and two sixes off 72 deliveries while Raut assumed the sheet anchor role, facing 134 balls and counting seven fours and a six.
When Mandhana pulled Knight to mid-wicket to depart in the 27th over, Raj joined Raut to add a further 78 for the second wicket before putting on an exciting 59 off 45 balls for the third wicket with Harmanpreet Kaur who made 24 not out.
At Bristol, Suzie Bates struck her third World Cup hundred and eighth in ODIs to guide New Zealand to a convincing nine-wicket win over Sri Lanka.
The 29-year-old opener finished unbeaten on 106 as the Kiwis easily chased down a modest 189 for victory in the 38th over.
When Rachel Priest fell cheaply for two in the sixth over at 19 for one, Bates put on a match-winning 170 in an unbroken second wicket stand with Amy Satterthwaite who was unbeaten on 78 at the end.
Chamari Jayangani had earlier top-scored with 53 while opener Chamari Kumarihami got 49, but seamer Holly Huddleston’s five-wicket haul limited the Sri Lankans to 188 for nine off their 50 overs.
