Close England Women 150 for 0 (Atkins 64*, Thompson 60*) v India Women After a disastrous display in the one-day series, England's batsmen showed an astonishing return to form on the first day of the one-off Test at Lucknow. England won the toss and batted, and openers Caroline Atkins and Arran Thompson stood their ground resolutely to remain unparted at the close. It wasn't pretty, but it was just what England needed after a series of collapses.

Both players recorded their highest scores in a full international. Atkins made 64* and Thompson 60* to take England to 150 without loss - a record opening partnership for England against India.

Their achievement looks even more remarkable in the context of England's woeful batting performances in the recent one-day series. They have lost all three one-day games staged so far, making totals of 106, 71, and 78, a record described by squad member Lucy Pearson as "pitiful".

Arran Thompson emphasised her relief at ending this run when she spoke to the media at close of play. "Our weakness on tour has been forming partnerships," she said, "and we really worked as a partnership today."

England made slow but relentless progress, with their total coming from 101 overs, more than half of them maidens. But despite using eight different bowlers, India struggled in vain for the breakthrough.

The compilers of the record books will be keeping a close eye on this game. When they resume tomorrow, Atkins and Thompson will have both the England Test record opening partnership against any opposition (164) and the world record (178) in their sights. However, unless the pace picks up in the morning, they may also find that they have also smashed several rather less keenly coveted slow-scoring records. Both have already batted for longer than the slowest completed innings between 60 and 70 ever recorded by an Englishwoman - a 315-minute 65 by Jan Brittin against Australia at Gosford in 1984-85.

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