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Indian women beat England in first ODI

In a low-scoring game on a dodgy Old Trafford wicket, the touring Indian women's cricket team pipped hosts England in the first one day international of the series.

In fact, the only player to produce a convincing outing with the bat was Anjum Chopra, India's stylish left-handed number three, who came up with the day's top score of 52 while Rupanjali Shastri threw the bat around with some vim to notch up a quick 22.

The last wicket pair scraped the remaining runs in a flurry of leg byes, to take India home to a one wicket win with three balls to spare of the allotted overs.

The pitch was well worn, having already been used for two Lancashire games, and the Indian bowlers with plenty of turn aided by uncertain bounce restricted England, batting first on winning the toss, to a low 128 for 8 in 50 overs.

The Indians backed the bowling up with some brilliant work in the field, producing three crucial run outs including that of skipper Karen Smithies.

Poornima Rau and all rounder Rupanjali Shastri, both off spinners, did the star turn for the Indians with the ball, picking up two wickets apiece and ensuring that the England batting never really got going.

The Indians in their turn struggled with the bat against some accurate medium pace from Taylor and Pearson -- both keeper-opener Anju Jain and 16-year-old Mithali Raj finding run making very difficult on the dicey track against a swinging ball.

Chopra, the tall, Delhi based left-hander, had already impressed in the field and, coming in at one drop, took charge of the game with a fluent 52 off 110 balls, revealing a tight technique and a penchant for fluid strokeplay. Rupanjali Shastri then chipped in with a quick 22 off 26 balls before being given out, LBW, in a hugely controversial decision.

The loss of two tailend wickets off successive balls appeared to spell doom for India, still needing four to win with one wicket left, but Renu Margate and Neetu David scrambled the required runs through leg byes, swinging lustily and connecting more with pad than bat, to take the side home in a tight fought game and give India a 1-0 lead in the series.

A mere 600 spectators -- most of them non-paying -- turned up to watch proceedings, underlining that women's cricket is still a long way from busting the box office.

India will play two more ODIs, at Northampton on Friday and Trent Bridge on Sunday, before playing a one-off, four day Test against the England team.

But against that lack of spectator support, SkyTV telecast the ODI live -- so they are getting there, albeit at a painfully slow speed.

ENGLAND 
C M Edwards b Rau 15 
K Smithies run out 11 
J Cassar c & b Kulkarni 13 
K M Leng run out 12 
L K Newton run out 12 
C J Connor lbw b Shastri 16 
S C Taylor b Shastri 10 
M Reynard st Jain b Rau 11 
C E Taylor not out 6 
S V Collyer not out 3 
Extras (b7, lb6, w6) 19 
Total (for 8, 50 overs) 128 

Fall of Wicket: 1-26, 2-41, 3-58, 4-64, 5-84, 
6-102, 7-111, 8-117. 

Bowling: Dhokarikar 5-1-11-0; Margreat 8-3-12-0; 
David 9-2-20-0; Rau 10-2-28-2; Kulkarni 10-2-22-1; 
Shastri 8-1-22-2. 

INDIA 
A Jain c Smithies b C E Taylor 5 
M Raj c Newton b Pearson 4 
A Chopra b Newton 52 
P Rau b C E Taylor 0 
C Aheer c Connor b Collyer 3 
H Kala c & b Smithies 10 
K Dhokarikar run out 10 
R Shastri lbw b C E Taylor 22 
D M Kulkarni b Newton 0 
R Margreat not out 1 
N David not out 1 
Extras (lb11, w13) 24 
Total (for 9, 49.3 overs) 132 

Fall of Wicket: 1-5, 2-9, 3-17, 4-33, 5-61, 6-88, 7-118, 
8-122, 9-122. 

Bowling: Pearson 7-3-11-1; C E Taylor 9.3-5-12-3; 
Collyer 6-1-14-1; Edwards 4-1-14-0; Leng 6-0-18-0; 
Smithies 6-2-19-1; Newton 6-1-17-2; Connor 5- 1-16-0.