Thompson leads England women to win in lung-opener

Led by 19-year old opening batsman Arran Thompson, England Women completed an easy yet long drawn out six-wicket win against the Women's Cricket Association of India (WCAI) XI at the Guru Nanak College Ground in Chennai. The lung-opener proved to be little more than a solid practice session out in the middle for the visitors. A low scoring affair on a slow wicket, the hosts managed just 137/9 in 50 overs, something that England knocked off in 46.1 overs.

On winning the toss, WCAI XI skipper Sulakshana Naik elected to bat. Not soon after, she would have regretted the decision with her team struggling to put runs on the board. Gulshan, Sudharani and Arpita Patel made ducks while Reema Malhotra and Seema Bhomwick managed just 4 apiece. Opener Jaya Sharma held one end up with a spirited 30, the captain herself made 23 but it still appeared as though the end of the innings was nigh when the seventh wicket fell. With nothing to lose, Kamakshi (34) and Savita Nirala (11) threw the bat around with gay abandon, notching up a 33-run 8th wicket stand. On the back of this, the WCAI XI limped to 137/9 off 50 overs.

Docked two overs for not bowling their overs in the allotted time, England needed to get going from the word go to ease the pressure. As it turned out, there was no pressure on the batsmen at any point, with the WCAI XI bowlers struggling to maintain a good line and length. Arran Thompson knuckled down to the task at hand and stroked her way to a patient unbeaten 65 (202 mins, 119 balls, 2 fours). Although run-outs accounted for two quick wickets in the middle of the innings, there were no hiccups in the England chase. Skipper Clare Connor was unbeaten on 13 when the match was completed.

At the end of the day, it was not a match that generated tremendous excitement. Yet, the England women will be happy with the what they achieved - getting their tour off to a winning start.