Knight and Wyatt secure thrilling win

Debutante Heather Knight, who hit 49 in the two-wicket win, receives her England cap from captain Charlotte Edwards

Debutants Heather Knight and Danielle Wyatt starred as England women completed the one-day series against their India counterparts with a nerve-shredding two-wicket victory in Mumbai.

Wyatt showed composure beyond her tender 18 years to hit the winning runs with a ball to spare and finish 28 not out from 26 deliveries at the Bandra Kurla Complex.

Knight had fallen one short of a half-century at the top of the order, but the 19-year-old was England’s top-scorer as the top eight all reached double figures.

The result means India’s margin of victory in the five-match series is only 3-2, ahead of the three-game Twenty20 rubber also in Mumbai.

Harmanpreet Kaur and Mithali Raj earlier led a recovery for the hosts with 84 and 50 respectively, after stand-in captain Nicky Shaw had taken three wickets, as India posted 206 for nine.

Shaw, taking the reigns from the rested Charlotte Edwards, won the toss and her decision to insert India soon paid dividends.

Shaw herself had had Sulakshana Naik caught with her first ball and, after Katherine Brunt had trapped fellow opener Anjum Chopra in front, bowled Poonam Raut to leave India nine for three.

Shaw soon had her third wicket, en route to 3-34 from 10 overs, when Danielle Hazell caught Diana David at 26 for four.

Raj and Kaur rebuilt with a 90-run partnership that had spanned 21 overs when the former was caught behind off Brunt.

Soniya Dabir then added 71 with Kaur, who was caught off Jenny Gunn after nine fours from 113 balls.

India’s lower-order faltered with the exception of Dabir, who finished unbeaten on 31.

In reply, Knight and Ebony Rainford-Brent made a solid start before the latter was lbw to Rumeli Dhar for 17.

Beth Morgan chipped in with 19 but was bowled by Gouher Sultana and Knight, who struck six fours in 101 deliveries, was caught off Dabir agonisingly short of her milestone.

Lydia Greenway was then stumped off Sultana for 26 and Gunn bowled by Jhulan Goswami in the next over for 12 to leave England teetering at 133 for five.

That brought Wyatt to the crease and along with Laura Marsh, who was held off Dabir for 22, and and Hazell, who was trapped in front by Dhar for 18 from just 11 balls, she kept the tourists on course.

Shaw was bowled by Goswami with three runs still needed but Wyatt secured a tense win with a four off Sultana.

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