A commanding batting performance from the top order of the England side propelled the home team to reach 269 runs for the loss of six wickets on the first day of the only Test match against India at the County Ground in Bristol.

 

However, the Indian team bounced back in the final session of the play by picking up four wickets for 21 runs with Sneh Rana scalping three crucial wickets in the middle order to help the team crawl back in the game.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, the opening combination of Lauren Winfield-Hill and Tammy Beaumont started the innings steadily for the home team. The duo added 69 runs for the first wicket before Winfield-Hill was caught behind for 35 to debutant Pooja Vastrakar.

The first wicket resulted in skipper Heather Knight striding in the middle at number three. In her 100th game as the captain of the national side, she set a solid foundation for the team with a 71 run stand along with Beaumont.

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Knight showcased her immense skill with an array of strokes all around the ground as she crafted her way to a well compiled 95 runs. The opening batsman too notched up a well-compiled half-century (66) studded with four boundaries before a one-handed brilliance from Shafali Verma ended her stay in the middle.

With conditions conducive for batting, the top order of the home side made optimum use of the surface and piled up a mammoth score, with Natalie Sciver too contributing with a well-constructed 42.

Watch the full Highlights here:

[Video hosted on England and Wales Cricket Board's Youtube Channel]