England vs India: Jemima Rodriguez and Yastika Bhatia shine in 38-run win at Chelmsford

England suffered a tough defeat ahead of the T20 World Cup as they were completely outclassed by India in a 38-run defeat in Chelmsford.

Chasing 189 to win, England stumbled to 150-8 with questions remaining about the batting line-up before the tournament begins in June.

Openers Alice Capsey and Sophia Dunkley fell cheaply before Amy Jones made a fluent 67 off 48 balls, but the run rate spiraled out of control as they collapsed from 120-3.

The returns of Danny White-Hodge from maternity leave and Nat Sciver-Brent from injury can’t come soon enough for a struggling England side.

The extras also proved a big difference, with England providing 21 runs compared to India’s three.

Lauren Bell gave England the perfect start with two wickets in the first over, including star batsman Smriti Mandhana off the first ball of the innings before Shafali Verma was dropped for two.

But Jemima Rodrigues and Yastika Bhatia remained undeterred, taking 27 off the second bowled by Essie Wong to start their third wicket counterattack of 126.

England’s fielding standards dipped again when they came under pressure, but stand-in skipper Charlie Dean led an encouraging fight by removing both batsmen in the 14th over.

Bhatia was run out for 54 and Rodrigues was caught and bowled for 69 as India slumped from 133-2 to 148-6, including the first T20 wicket of debutant Tilly Curtin-Coleman as Richa Ghosh was sensationally caught by Wong.

But Deepti Sharma, often a thorn in England’s side, hit four boundaries in 22 off 13 balls at the death to ensure the Indian middle’s brilliance did not go in vain as they finished on 188-7.

The three-game series continues in Bristol on Saturday, with White-Hodge in contention to make his debut this summer.