(Cricket news) After a disappointing loss in the T20I series, India women came back well to win the opening ODI by 7 wickets. Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur won and put England into bat first. Meghna Singh and veteran Jhulan Goswami returned to the side as did Harleen Deol and Rajeshwari Gayakwad. Renuka Singh who has been in incredible form was left out but she is Jhulan Goswami's successor and will be a very important part of the team. England handed Alice Capsey her ODI debut while Emma Lamb and Tammy Beaumont were back in the side. Winning the toss was very crucial for India as they needed to assess the pitch first as it looked like a tricky wicket from the get go. 

India managed to restrict England to 227/7 in 50 overs. Alice Davidson-Richards was the highest run scorer as she scored an unbeaten 50 off 61 to get England to a respectable total. Dani Wyatt, Sophie Ecclestone and Charlie Dean played good cameos but none of the English batters managed to play a big innings. The visitors managed to pick up wickets at regular intervals and didn't let England build a big partnership. Jhulan Goswami in her final ODI series bowled an excellent spell with the new ball. She finished with the figures of 10-2-20-1. Meghna Singh, Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Harleen Deol picked up a wicket each while Deepti Sharma got 2 scalps.

Chasing 228, India lost Shafali Verma early but Smriti Mandhana and Yastika Bhatia steadied the ship. Bhatia got 50 off just 47 balls hitting 8 fours and a six. She has been in and out of the T20I side but her position in the ODI team is more than secure. Harmanpreet Kaur also played a very good knock of 74 off 94 balls as she hit 7 boundaries and a maximum. Smriti Mandhana was the star of the show as she often is while chasing. The left hander scored 91 off 99 balls to lead India to a comfortable victory. Mandhana hit 10 fours and a six as she was very unlucky to miss out on a deserved century. India will have a chance to wrap up the series on Wednesday at Canterbury but England will definitely come back hard at the women in blue.

Also read: India look to lock middle-order, sixth bowler ahead of T20 World Cup