England were outplayed by India as they fell to a 38-run defeat in their pre-T20 World Cup meeting in Chelmsford.
England, who still await the return of Danni Wyatt-Hodge from maternity leave and Nat Sciver-Brunt from injury, were set a target of 189 to win but managed just 150 for eight with their batting line-up failing to convince.
Alice Capsey and Sophia Dunkley opened but were unable to make much impact, then Amy Jones hit 67 off 48 balls, but they were unable to build upon a promising 120 for three.
Lauren Bell had started well for England with two early wickets, taking India’s Smriti Mandhana before Shafali Verma was out for just two.
Jemimah Rodrigues and Yastika Bhatia then took 27 from the second over, bowled by Issy Wong, to release the early pressure and built a match-winning partnership.
Stand-in captain Charlie Dean removed both set batters in the 14th over as England threatened to retaliate.
Bhatia was out for 54, Rodrigues was caught and bowled for 69 as India wobbled then Richa Ghosh was caught by Wong.
Deepti Sharma struck four boundaries in her 22 from 13 balls to take India to an unassailable 188 for seven. The three-match series continues at Bristol on Saturday.
PA
