Deepti Sharma (R) reacts after delivering a ball during the Women's T20 World Cup match at St George's Park in Gqeberha on Saturday. AFP

Nat Sciver-Brunt hit a half-century to lead an England recovery after Indian opening bowler Renuka Thakur struck three early blows in a Women's T20 World Cup match at St George's Park in Gqeberha on Saturday.

England made 151 for seven after being sent in to bat in a contest between two unbeaten teams in Group Two.

Overcast conditions were helpful for seam bowling on a fresh pitch after early morning rain.

Thakur made the ball swing sharply into the right-handed batters. She bowled three overs during the power play, taking a wicket in each over as England slumped to 29 for three.

Thakur came back to bowl the last over of the innings and claimed two more wickets, finishing with five for 15. But thanks mainly to Sciver-Brunt, who scored 50, the England batters prospered against the rest of the Indian bowlers, with the exception of Shikha Pandey. Brought in as an extra seamer, Pandey took one for 20 in her four overs.

Sciver-Brunt and England captain Heather Knight (28) put on 51 for the fourth wicket with aggressive batting, while Amy Jones hit strongly later in the innings to make 40 off 27 balls with two sixes and three fours.

Brief scores:

England 151-7 in 20 overs (N. Sciver-Brunt 50, A. Jones 40; R. Thakur 5-15).

Toss: India.

Match situation: India need 152 to win.

Agence France-Presse