LONDON: An unbeaten half-century by Deepti Sharma guided India to a four-wicket win over England in the first Women's ODI in Southampton on Wednesday.
India were off to a shaky start in their chase of the 259-run target set by England and were reduced to 124-4 in 27.1 overs, losing openers Pratika Rawal (36 off 51) Smriti Mandhana (28 off 24) as well as Harleen Deol (27 off 44) and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (17 off 27).
Thereafter, Deepti and Jemimah Rodrigues (48 off 54) led India's charge and added 90 runs for the sixth-wicket partnership. Amanjot Kaur scored a brisk 14-ball 20 as the visitors chased down the target with 10 balls to spare.
Deepti's match-winning knock of 62 off 64 balls contained three fours and a six.
Earlier, young seamer Kranti Goud impressed with two wickets upfront before Sophia Dunkley's unbeaten 92-ball 83 lifted England to 258 for six.
Besides Goud (2-55 in 9 overs), off-spinner Sneh Rana (2-31 in 10 overs) too picked up two wickets during a fine display after England opted to bat.
Alice Davidson Richards contributed 53 in 73 balls during a 106-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Dunkley, which formed the nucleus of the England innings after they lost four wickets for 97 runs. Agencies
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