England all-rounder Nat Sciver smashed a swashbuckling 55 as England beat India by 18 runs via DLS method in the rain-curtailed first T20I at Northampton on Friday.
After being asked to bat first, England opening pair of Tammy Beaumont and Danni Wyatt got their team off to a fantastic start. The duo added 76 runs for the first wicket before Radha Yadav broke the partnership by dismissing Wyatt caught behind by wicket keeper Richa Gosh for 31.
Beaumont was dismissed by Poonam Yadav for 18. Skipper Heather Knight departed in the 12th over leaving England at 85/3.
The duo of Nat Sciver and Amy Jones brought the innings back on track with a superb 78 run stand for the fourth wicket before the former fell to an outstanding catch by Kaur off Shikha Pandey for a quickfire 55. Her knock came off 27 balls with eight fours and a six.
Jones fell to a magnificent catch on the boundary line by Harleen Deol for a 27 ball 43. The hosts ended up with 177/7 at the end of their allotted 20 overs.
Shikha Pandey was the pick of the bowlers for India with figures of 3/22.
Chasing 178, India started disastrously by losing young Shafali Verma bowled by Katherine Brunt for a second ball duck.
Mandhana along with Harleen Deol added 44 runs for the second wicket before the former was caught at deep backward square by Sophie Ecclestone off Nat Sciver for 29.
Skipper Kaur lasted just 2 balls before falling to Sarah Glenn. The rain intervened with India at 54/3 leaving them 18 behind on the DLS par score.
Nat Sciver was declared the Man of the Match.