Newton, Godliman and Connor give England good start

England were in a strong position at the end of the first day of the second women's Test against India at the County Ground in Taunton.

Having been asked to bat first by India, they recovered from the loss of Charlotte Edwards for one when the score was one to be 280/7 at stumps.

Kathryn Leng (10) and Caroline Atkins (12) were also gone by the time 27 was reached.

But then, firstly Claire Taylor (27) and then Clare Connor and Laura Newton provided the foundation that left them in such a strong position at the end of the day.

They add 56 runs before Connor was out for 48 off 97 balls, two runs short of her maiden Test half century.

Newton carried on with Laura Harper to add another 21 runs before 19-year-old Mandie Godliman proved superb support in a stand of 110 runs for the seventh wicket. Unfortunately for Newton, she was dismissed for 98, scored off 197 balls and including 12 boundaries.

Godliman, who was making her Test debut, was 51 not out at stumps, scored off 149 balls.

Right-arm medium-pace bowler Jhulan Goswami was the most effective of the Indian bowlers, taking three for 44 from her 19 overs.