AUSTRALIA won the first women's one-day international at Scarborough yesterday but England gave them a run for their money between the showers.

Chasing a revised target of 115 in 20 overs, England captain Karen Smithies and veteran Jan Brittin put on 72 for the third wicket, Smithies hitting four boundaries in a superb 41 from 38 balls. But just when Australia started to look ragged Olivia Magno ran out Smithies with a fine throw from the covers.

Brittin kept England up with the required rate but when she too was run out England's chase came to a sad and soggy end.

The five-match series continues at Derby on Wednesday and England will have to come up with a plan to deal with Australia's captain, Belinda Clark, who scored a scintillating 95 from 93 deliveries, including seven boundaries. She gave one steepling chance to long-on when she was on 34. Sue Metcalfe circled underneath but could not get a hand to it.

Clark went through her full repertoire, finding the gaps with ease, particularly through the covers. Her parting shot was a superb boundary high over cover, her seventh in all in an innings which took her past 2,000 one-day runs.

The England fielders stuck to their task, Kathryn Leng taking one excellent low catch at mid-on.