England Women brush aside India with commanding eight-wicket victory in the first ODI

England Women brush aside India with commanding eight-wicket victory in the first ODI as Tammy Beaumont’s 87 helps lead her side to a two-point lead in multi-format series

  • England beat India by eight wickets in the first ODI of the multi-format series
  • Tammy Beaumont made 87 as England cruised to their small target of 202
  • The second ODI is at Taunton on Wednesday before the third on Saturday 


England’s women took a two-point lead in their multi-format series against India yesterday with a commanding eight-wicket victory at Bristol in the first one-day international.

Tammy Beaumont and Nat Sciver led the way with an unbroken partnership of 119 as England cruised to their target of 202 in just 34.5 overs.

It was all too easy for England in the battle of the 2017 World Cup finalists after India had struggled to 201 for eight on a fresh pitch in the Bristol gloom.

Tammy Beaumont was the star as England cruised to an eight-wicket win over India at Bristol

The victory in the first ODI gives England a two-point lead at the start of the multi-format series

The victory in the first ODI gives England a two-point lead at the start of the multi-format series

Spinner Sophie Ecclestone (below), who bowled 64 overs in the drawn Test between the sides at Nevil Road last week, was again the key performer with three for 40 as India became becalmed once their teenage superstar Shafali Verma had been dismissed by Katherine Brunt.

Brunt, still going strong approaching her 36th birthday, also took the wicket of Taniya Bhatia thanks to an exceptional stumping from Amy Jones, standing up to the pace bowler.

Veteran India captain Mithali Raj did make 72 before being bowled by Ecclestone but she soaked up 108 balls in doing so as India were unable to force the pace.

The score looked 50 short of par on a pristine surface and so it proved, even though England lost Lauren Winfield-Hill, back at the top of the 50-over order for the first time in four years, and Heather Knight cheaply.

Mithali Raj struck 72 but it was not enough to get India to a competitive total they could defend

Mithali Raj struck 72 but it was not enough to get India to a competitive total they could defend

Beaumont, who finished with 87 from 87 balls, could have been run out before scoring and Sciver, equally authoritative in making 74 from 74, was dropped on 12, but they were rare blemishes as England hurried home. In doing so Sciver became the fastest woman to 2,000 ODI runs. ‘We were really clinical,’ said England captain Knight.

‘Katherine set the tone with the new ball and I just got the popcorn out and watched at extra cover. It’s great to see young batters going after her and Anya Shrubsole and them holding their nerve.’

The second ODI is at Taunton on Wednesday before the 50-over series concludes at Worcester on Saturday. 

England captain Heather Night praised her side after their clinical performance throughout

England captain Heather Night praised her side after their clinical performance throughout