England ease to six-wicket win

England got off to a winning start in the NatWest Women's Quadrangular series, beating India by a comfortable six-wicket margin in Derby.

Choosing to bowl, England began well, running out opener Anagha Deshpande for a duck before getting India's premier batsman, Mithali Raj, to edge to the wicketkeeper, also for no score. Poonam Raut and Harmanpreet Kaur steadied India though, putting on a patient 83 for the third wicket. Kaur was trapped lbw by Holly Colvin for 41, attempting a heave across the line.

Raut hung on for a bit longer, getting to 50 off 115 deliveries. Her resistance was also ended by Colvin, who found her short of her crease with an accurate throw from gully. The double-blow did not send India into a shell though. Debutant Veda Krishnamurthy built on the patient stand with an attacking knock of 51 off 57 balls that included eight fours and set India up for a competitive total. But a mini-collapse followed as India went from 162 for 4 in the 43rd over to 202 for 9 in 50.

England's innings followed a similar pattern. After two early wickets, the chase was rescued by Charlotte Edwards and Claire Taylor with a half-century third-wicket partnership. Lydia Greenway, who had Sarah Taylor for company, added the finishing touches with an unbeaten half-century and took England home with 28 balls to spare.

Greenway, who was named Player of the Match, said England were not at their best in the field. "I was really pleased to get us over the line. Charlotte Edwards and Claire Taylor put in a good partnership and Sarah Taylor played positively at the end to get the run-rate up. We didn't perform in the field but pulled it back with the bat.

"We'll be back training hard tomorrow and will set our plans as we look to hit our straps against New Zealand on Saturday."