India kick off Women’s World Cup with statement win

Women in Blue down hosts England by 35 runs after scoring an impressive 281-3

LONDON: India beat hosts England by 35 runs on the opening day of the 2017 Women's World Cup at Derby on Saturday.

India piled up an imposing 281-3 in their 50 overs thanks to fifties from Smriti Mandhana (90) and Punam Raut (86), who put on 144 for the first wicket, as well as 71 from skipper Mithali Raj.

Only reigning world champions Australia had previously chased down a bigger target in a women's ODI.

England just about kept themselves in the hunt and were still in with a chance thanks to Fran Wilson's maiden fifty at 229-6 in the 44th over.

But her departure for 81 — one of four run-outs in the innings — left the lower order of England, now a team of full-time professionals, with too much to do.

Three-times champions England, who've won the previous two World Cups staged in their own country, were eventually bowled out for 246.

"It was a brilliant opening partnership between Smriti and Punam," said the assured Raj, who was seen reading a book before she came into bat wearing a floppy hat rather than the now ubiquitous helmet. "After I batted, I realised that the wicket didn't have much assistance for the bowlers, and that the spinners, in particular, will have to bowl in the right areas."

England captain Heather Knight, who opted to field first after winning the toss, felt her bowlers could have done more. "I thought the wicket would do a bit more, but to be honest, we didn't put the ball in the right areas,” she said. "We bowled too short and let them get away. We backed ourselves to chase it down but lost wickets and struggled. India took the game away from us with the bat. It was an exciting match but I'm really disappointed to end up on the losing side."

Meanwhile, Saturday's other match saw 2000 champions New Zealand hammer Sri Lanka by nine wickets at Bristol.

Holly Huddleston took 5-35 as Sri Lanka were held to a meagre 188-9 before White Ferns' captain Suzie Bates scored the first century of this World Cup, an unbeaten 106, as her side cruised to victory with more than 12 overs to spare.

"In the lead up to this, I hadn't felt that great out in the middle and I just wanted to be patient and wait for the ball," said Bates. "To get the target with just one wicket down will give us some momentum.”

All the eight teams involved in the World Cup — England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, India, Pakistan, the West Indies and Sri Lanka — will play each other once, with the top four then going on to contest the semi-finals.

The final takes place at Lord's on July 23.