England vs India: Jemima Rodrigues and Yastika Bhatia star in a 38-run win at Chelmsford.

England suffered a World Cup defeat before the T20, losing to India by 38 runs at Chelmsford.

Chasing 189 to win, England stumbled at 150-8 as questions remain over the team line-up ahead of the tournament in June.

Openers Alice Kapsey and Sophia Dunkley fell cheaply before Amy Jones hit a fluent 67 off 48 balls, but the run rate slipped from 120-3 and spiraled out of control.

The return of Danny White-Hodge from maternity leave and Nate Sciver-Brunt from injury for England’s stuttering top order can’t come soon enough.

Extras also made a big difference, with England giving away 21 compared to India’s three.

Lauren Bell gave England the perfect start with two wickets before Shafali Verma fell for two.

But Jemima Rodrigues and Yastika Bhatia put on 27 off the second over to start their counter-attacking third-wicket stand of 126, supported by Issy Wong.

England’s fielding levels slipped again under pressure, but stand-in skipper Charlie Deane led a spirited fightback by dismissing both set batsmen in the 14th over.

Bhatia was finished for 54 and Rodriguez was caught and bowled for 69 as India slipped from 133-2 to 148-6.

But Deepti Sharma, who has been a thorn in England’s side of late, made 22 off 13 balls at the death, hitting four boundaries as India posted 188-7, making the middle-order brilliance go in vain.

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