India A 226 for 3 (Hasabnis 57*, Deol 53, Rawal 46) beat England A 222 for 6 (Scrivens 88, Pavely 54, Mani 2-39) by seven wickets
India A won their opening one-day match against England A by seven wickets in Hove on Sunday. In a tense game, which remained competitive until near the end, India got home with four overs to spare with a flurry of strokes from Tejal Hasabnis (57 not out) and Niki Prasad (28 not out). England had won the T20 series 2-1.
England's total of 222 for 6 always looked a little under-par, even though India bowled well on a pitch that offered their slow bowlers more turn than they may have expected.
The innings was built around a fifth-wicket stand of 109 between Grace Scrivens (88) and Charis Pavely (54) in 23 overs, the two left-hand batters coming together when the score was 77 for 4 in the 24th over.
England had lost Jodi Grewcock to a stunning catch down the leg side by wicketkeeper Uma Chetry off the bowling of the nippy Jintimani Kalita in the sixth over. Opening partner Ella McCaughan was caught at slip off Vaishnavi Sharma with the score on 43 in the 14th over and England were in some trouble when they lost Davina Perrin and Kira Chathli to successive deliveries from the challenging offspinner Minnu Mani, the first Kerala woman to play for India.
It was at this stage that Scrivens was joined by Pavely in the partnership that would define the innings. But the bowling was tight, especially from Mani, Vaishnavi and Shabnam Shakil.
Pavely was caught behind for an 84-ball 54 as she attempted a ramp shot at 186 but Scrivens remained until the final over, when she was brilliantly caught at mid-on by the diving Harleen Deol.
Priya Punia lent impetus to India's reply, with five fours in her 23 before she pulled Charley Phillips to long leg. But opening partner Pratika Rawal made a determined 46 from 71 deliveries, with eight fours, before she was caught behind off Pavely.
After that, Deol bossed India's innings, reaching her half-century from 66 balls, with six fours. But she was out soon after, spooning a ball from Grace Ballinger to midwicket. And with Grace Potts in particularly miserly form with the ball (her first six overs cost just 14 runs) the match was still in the balance.
India were now looking to Hasabnis to see them home, but with 38 runs needed from the last ten overs England were still in the match. But then Prasad, who had made a quiet start, struck five boundaries to help Hasabnis see India over the line.
