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[caption id="attachment_48312" align="aligncenter" width="580"] Indian womwn's team posted a mammoth of a total in front of hosts England in their opening match of the World Cup. Image Source: ICC[/caption] Internet Desk: A brilliant batting by skipper Mithali Raj, Punam Raut and Smriti Mandana helped India to post a record total of 281 runs for the loss of 3 wickets against hosts England in the opening match of the ICC Women’s cricket World Cup today. England won the toss and sent the visitors to bat first. The openers Punam Raut (86) and Smriti Mandhana (90) started the innings brilliantly as they shared a 144-run stand for the first wicket in 27 overs. After Mandhana’s departure skipper Mithali Raj (71) joined the party with Punam Raut. They put up a partnership of 78 runs in 16 overs. Raut was dismissed on well made 86. During her knock skipper Mithali Raj scored a record breaking seventh consecutive half century. Mandhana was a last-minute inclusion to the squad after she recovered from an Anterior Crucial Ligament (ACL) injury she suffered during the Women's Big Bash in January. The 20-year-old during her whirlwind effort showed what she was worth the selection. She can hit not only the fours at will but also the big hits. Mandhana mostly stayed on the back foot in her free-flowing knock. Her first six came as she sat back on backfoot to hammer it over wide long-on. She was majorly responsible for giving India a flying start as the team reached 59 in 10 overs. For England, Knight scalped two wickets for 41 runs. Brief scores: India 281/3 (Punam Raut 86, Smriti Mandhana 90; Heather Knight 2/41) against England.