Indian eves power to convincing victory

Cricket: First one-dayer: Jhulan bags three wickets as hosts post 35-run win

After electing to bat, half-centuries by Mithali Raj and Priyanka Roy helped India post 199 for five, a total that at the outset appeared vastly inadequate to stretch the in-form English outfit.

But with the Indian pace bowlers pursuing a tidy line in the initial overs and spinners hitting the right areas later, the English batswomen were forced to adopt a more watchful approach, and they failed to accelerate towards the end, managing only 164.

That they lost openers Sarah Taylor, who had made a fifty against the Board President’s XI, and skipper Charlotte Edwards with only 46 on the board added pressure on the visitors. Indian skipper Jhulan Goswami hit her straps straightaway and used her tall frame to procure good bounce at considerable pace.

However, the best phase in the England innings followed as Ebony Rainford-Brent and Lydia Greenway added 53 runs off just 49 balls for the third wicket without ever really taking undue risks.

The West Indian-born Brent, known for her big hits, was in her elements, playing some power-packed shots around the park and with Greenway lending her solid support, England seemed to be in cruise mode. Brent made a well-crafted half-century (64, 88m, 83b, 10x4), but she was dismissed much against the run of play, left-arm spinner Gauhar Sultana trapping her with a straight one.

Rumeli Dhar inflicted another quick blow, removing Beth Morgan for nought, but England seemed to regain the rhythm with Greenway and Caroline Atkins milking 45 runs for the fifth wicket. Goswami returned for her second spell at the right time and immediately fetched the desired results.

The pacer trapped Atkins in front of the wicket with the first ball of the 40th over and two balls later accounted for Jenny Gunn, a leading edge finding Priyanka Roy at short covers. From 145/4 England slipped to 145/6 in a flash and they never recovered from that point, losing the last six wickets for 19 runs.

Earlier, the Indian innings too experienced a mini-collapse as their four front-line batters went back to the hut for a paltry 63, but fortunately the home side had two cool-headed players in Mithali and Priyanka who shared a crucial 100-run partnership for the fifth wicket.

The alliance was based on patience and vigilance — precisely the qualities India needed at that moment, and that proved to be the difference between two sides.

SCORE BOARD

INDIA: Anagha Deshpande c Gunn b Brunt 14; Thirushkamini (run out) 28; Mithali Raj c Greenway b Edwards 62; Anjum Chopra (run out) 2; Rumeli Dhar c Taylor b Gunn 0; Priyanka Roy (not out) 69; Amita Sharma (not out) 12; Extras (LB-3, NB-1, W-8) 12; Total (for 5 wkts, 50 overs) 199.

Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-57, 3-60, 4-63, 5-163.
Bowling: Katherine 10-0-46-1 (w-2), Anya 10-2-32-0 (w-1), Jenny 7-0-31-1 (w-2), Nicola 7-0-19-0, Laura 10-0-41-0 (w-2), Charlotte 6-0-27-1 (w-1, nb-1).

ENGLAND: Sarah Taylor lbw Jhulan 4; Charlotte Edwards st Anagha b Amla 20; Ebony Rainford-Brent lbw Sultana 64; Lydia Greenway (run out) 35; Beth Morgan lbw Dhar 0; Caroline Atkins lbw Jhulan 21; Jenny Gunn c Roy b Goswami 0; Nicola Shaw lbw Dhar 4; Katherine Brunt c Dhar b Sultana 2; Laura Marsh (not out) 6; Anya Shrubsole lbw Sultana 0; Extras (B-5, LB-1, W-2) 8; Total (all out, 45 overs) 164.

Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-46 , 3-99, 4-100, 5-145, 6-145 , 7-156, 8-156, 9-164.
Bowling: Jhulan 8-3-16-3 (w-1), Rumeli 8-1-23-2, Amita 7-0-26-1, Nooshin 5-0-30-0 (w-1), Preeti 5-0-25-0, Gouhar 10-2-26-3,  Priyanka 2-0-12-0.