India women complete series win

Mithali Raj saw India to a series victory with 84 not out, including 13 fours today

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India women clinched the one-day series against England women with a game to spare thanks to a five-wicket victory at Visakhapatnam in the fourth match.

Former India captain Mithali Raj’s unbeaten 84, containing 13 fours, proved decisive as the hosts passed England’s 152 for nine with 5.2 overs to spare, taking an unassailable 3-1 lead.

England skipper Charlotte Edwards had earlier underpinned her team's innings with a determined unbeaten 57 after the tourists were put into bat.

However, the regular loss of wickets - seamer Jhulan Goswami and spinner Preeti Dimri each took three - undermined Edwards’ attempts at forging significant partnerships.

Danielle Hazell’s 21 was England’s next-highest score, while opener Caroline Atkins and Beth Morgan each contributed 20.

Left-arm chinaman Dimri, in particular, strangled the tourists’ innings as her 10 overs cost a mere 18 runs.

England desperately needed early breakthroughs and Katherine Brunt delivered when she soon trapped Anjum Chopra in front.

Although wickets fell at regular intervals - to Laura Marsh, Edwards and Jenny Gunn, who also affected a run out - Raj stood firm at the other end.

The final ODI takes place on Monday in Mumbai, the venue of the three-match Twenty20 series that follows.

After the game Edwards said: “We just didn’t get enough runs again, it seems to be the story of the series. Mithali has been like a thorn in my side.

“We needed to take early wickets and remove her and we didn’t. Ultimately we are not getting enough runs and that’s what is going wrong at the moment.

“Our fielding has been world class throughout this trip, the girls gave 110% and took India right to the line again, but if you don’t put enough runs on the ball your fielding means nothing.

“If we could get 30 or 40 more runs there would be a really good game of cricket out there, hopefully we can put that right in Mumbai.”

The new Brit Insurance 2010-11 official England Cricket Team kit will be available to pre order from April 1 via ecb.co.uk, and in store from April 29