Skipper Mithali Raj’s fighting half-century went in vain as England rode on Tammy Beaumont and Nat Sciver’s aggressive unbeaten fifties to beat a below-par India by eight wickets in the first ODI of the three-match series here on Sunday. 

Mithali led from the front with a patient 72 to guide India to a modest 201-8 after being put in to bat.  Mithali held India’s innings together following two early dismissals. She shared two crucial partnerships—56 runs with Punam Raut (32) and 65 with Deepti Sharma (30)—to help India go past the 200-run mark.