Indian cricket community hails women's victory in World Cup

The Indian cricket fraternity has lauded the women's national team for starting its campaign in the ICC Women's World Cup on a winning note in the United Kingdom.

India launched their campaign on Saturday with a comfortable 35-run win over hosts England, riding on superb batting display by the top-order, including skipper Mithali Raj and Smriti Mandhana.

If his series of tweets were any indications, batting great Sachin Tendulkar was involved in the match.

"Good awareness by Ekta Bisht to get another crucial run out. Mona Meshram's run out wasn't bad either. Keep it going India," was how Tendulkar's final tweet on the game read.

Before that he wrote, Superb batting performance by the @BCCIWomen's team! Keep it up @SmritiMandhana, Poonam Raut and @RajMithali Great run out by Deepti Sharma. Possibly a game changer for India."

Former India opener Virender Sehwag felt getting the better of the home team was at the start was a great beginning.

"Congratulations on a wonderful victory @BCCIWomen. Beating the hosts at home is indeed a great beginning."

Put into bat, Smriti Mandhana struck a sizzling 90 off 72 balls in a dominating batting display as India posted an imposing 281 for three after being asked to bat.

Mandhana forged a 144-run opening wicket stand with Poonam Raut (86 off 134) before skipper Mithali Raj (71 not out) completed an unprecedented seventh consecutive half century in ODIs.

India then returned to dismiss England for 246 with 15 balls to spare to make a resounding start to their World Cup campaign at the County Ground in Derby.

Ex-India captain Bishan Bedi wrote on his twitter handle, "Indn girls begin World Cup campaign brightly beat Eng convincingly-Twas delight watching Indns come o age..was pleasantly surprised-gud job!"

Opener Shikhar Dhawan and Manoj Tiwari also expressed their pleasure.

"Congratulations @BCCIWomen on their victorious start. Way to go," Dhawan wrote.

While Tiwary said, "Congratulations @BCCIWomen on a wonderful start in #WWC17 Well played @mandhana_smriti @M_Raj03 and Poonam Raut."