Wyatt, Sciver-Brunt set up easy win for England after early jolts

Pair hit fifties and raise a 138-run stand to set up a 38-run win despite Shafali's fightback at the Wankhede Stadium

- Aditya Chaturvedi

Riding on half-centuries by Danielle Wyatt and Natalie Sciver-Brunt and a high quality bowling spell by Sophie Ecclestone, England women defeated India by 38 runs in the first T20 International of the three-match series at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday.

Asked to bat first, England scored 197/6 their second-highest T20I total against India - despite an impressive threewicket haul by Renuka Singh. In reply, opener Shafali Varma hit a 42-ball 52 but the hosts were never really in command and finished on 159/6.

India were off to a promising start in the chase as Mahika Gaur leaked 12 runs in the first over before Lauren Bell was taken for eight. But England brought Sciver-Brunt into the attack and the star all-rounder cleaned up Smriti Mandhana, who attempted a hoick and was beaten all ends up.

Jemimah Rodrigues, in at No.3, fell three overs later and it seemed England would march towards a big win. But skipper Harmanpreet Kaur joined Shafali at the crease and they batted aggressively to add 41 runs off 31 balls.