India clinched a hard-fought four-wicket victory over England in the opening one-day international (ODI) at Southampton, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Deepti Sharma's composed unbeaten knock of 62 proved pivotal as India chased down England's total of 258-6 with 10 balls to spare.
England, who struggled with their fielding and missed a crucial LBW review against Sharma when she was on 40, were left to rue missed opportunities. Despite a late scare after the dismissals of Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh, Amanjot Kaur's steady 20 not out ensured India crossed the finish line comfortably.
The hosts had earlier posted a competitive total, thanks to Sophia Dunkley's well-paced 83 and Alice Davidson-Richards' 53, rescuing their innings from a precarious 97-4. However, their failure to accelerate in the final overs cost them dearly, leaving them short of a defendable total.
India's chase began solidly with a 48-run opening stand between Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, Sharma's gritty innings, which included a 52-ball half-century, kept the run rate in check. Her celebratory six off Lauren Bell highlighted her confidence and match-winning intent.
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt admitted that her team fell short, stating, "Sophia Dunkley and Alice Davidson-Richards played really well, but ultimately we didn't have enough runs." Meanwhile, India's Harmanpreet Kaur praised her team's performance, expressing satisfaction with their execution under pressure.
The series continues at Lord's on Saturday, with England aiming to bounce back and India looking to extend their lead.
Source: BBC Sport
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