India claim early bragging rights

Mithali Raj formed the backbone of India's innings, batitng for more than 40 overs to build a total England could not match

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A promising 64 by Ebony Rainford-Brent preceded a batting collapse by England women as India claimed first blood in the one-day series with a 35-run victory in Bangalore.

Set a testing target of 200 to take a series lead in a country where they have never won a one-day rubber, Rainford-Brent’s third ODI half-century and 35 from Lydia Greenway put England within touch.

But the World Cup and World Twenty20 champions subsided from 145 for four to 164 all out as seamer Jhulan Goswami and Gouher Sultana returned to make short work of the middle and late-order.

Both sets of players observed a minute’s silence before the game in memory of the former England Test player and stalwart administrator Audrey Collins, who died aged 94 this week. England wore black armbands to mark the occasion.

Charlotte Edwards lost the toss and England were asked to field. They then watched two familiar faces ensure India a competitive total.

Number three Mithali Raj proved the backbone of the innings, batting for 40.2 overs for 62.

She was joined for some late hitting by 21-year-old Priyanka Roy, who struck 69 not out from 98 balls and took India to a healthy but not insurmountable 199 for five.

Sarah Taylor marked her 50th one-day appearance with a run-out and a catch, but her stay with the bat was short-lived as she made just four.

Ebony Rainford-Brent top-scored for England with 64, but they lost six wickets for 21 runs to tumble to 164 all out in Bangalore

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Rainford-Brent, in the unfamiliar number three position vacated by the absent Claire Taylor, took up the challenge, sharing substantial stands with Edwards and Greenway, who had scored 81 in England’s resounding warm-up win.

When Rainford-Brent went lbw to a mistimed sweep with the score on 99, Greenway dug in, but the only support she received came from Caroline Atkins, who made 21.

The run-rate crept up, and with 55 needed from 10.1 overs the pressure told. After Atkins went, Greenway was seventh out, involved in a mix-up with Nicky Shaw run out for 35.

Six wickets fell for 21 runs all told, allowing India to celebrate an ultimately comfortable victory.

“We’re very disappointed with the loss,” Edwards said. “We didn't really get any partnerships going.

“We were good in the field, but let ourselves down batting. We’re all responsible for that. We're going to come back to fighting (on Sunday).”

Rainford-Brent added: “The pitch was interesting; it took a bit of getting used to.

“I enjoyed facing them; it was my first time facing Sultana. I was glad I could knock some runs out. It’s a shame we lost it at the end.”

The second of three one-day matches between these two sides takes place at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday.

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