Date:01/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/01/stories/2008090159962000.htm

Sport - Cricket

England thrashes a hapless India

Bath (England): Skipper Mithali Raj’s grim battle went in vain as the English women thumped India by eight wickets with 14 overs to spare in the first of the five-match ODI cricket series at the Bath Cricket Club ground, here.

Isa Guha (three for 30), the medium-pacer with Kolkata roots, mowed down India’s top order and then Jenny Gunn (three for 13) polished the tail as the visitor was shot out for a meagre 124 in 43.4 overs.

Chasing the target, the host cruised to 125 for two in 36 overs to complete the formalities.

Guha removed the scoreless Jaya Sharma and Asha Rawat off successive deliveries to reduce India to four for two. Opener Sulakshana Naik (five) fell soon to Katherine Brunt to leave India gasping at six for three.

Amita Sharma (34) and Mithali (44) then joined hands to stem the rot with a 48-run stand before Isa struck again, claiming her third victim in Amita. Amita’s brisk 34 came off 38 balls and included seven hits to the fence.

Hemlata Kala (10) joined Mithali in the middle and though runs didn’t exactly flow from her blade, her dogged defiance ensured there was no immediate setback for the side.

Kala eventually returned with the team score at 99.

One run later, Mithali too joined her in the pavilion after a 75-ball 44 that included seven boundaries.

It triggered another batting collapse and in fact none of the last five batters could reach double figures.

England got off to a decent start with openers Caroline Atkins (45) and Sarah Taylor (16) putting on 37 runs before ODI debutante Niranjana Nagarajan removed the latter.

Caroline was run out five shot of her half-century.

But Clair Taylor (40 not out) and captain Charlotte Edwards (14 not out) had little problem in guiding the side home.

Gunn won the Player of the Match award for her impressive figure of three for 13 off eight overs.

The scores: India 124 in 43.4 overs (Mithali Raj 44) lost to England 125 for two in 36 overs (Caroline Atkins 45, Sarah Taylor 40 n.o.) — PTI