Mumbai: Despite the heroics of Harmanpreet Kaur, who scored a scintillating century (107 runs off 109 balls), India lost to England by 32 runs in their second ICC Women’s World Cup Group ‘A’ match here on Sunday.

Harmanpreet’s century was laced eight fours and two sixes as she became only the second cricketer from India to slam a ton in the World Cup. However the Punjab batswoman’s efforts went in vain as she failed to find partners at the other end as India could manage only 240 for nine in reply to England's 272 in their stipulated 50 overs.

From England’s side pacer Katherine Helen Brunt was the pick of the bowlers as she scalped four wickets, while spinner Danielle Wyatt took two.

Chasing a target of 273, India started off on a bad note a they lost their top three batters, including Thirushkamini Murugesan, Punam Raut and skipper Mithali Raj, by the eighth over. However, vice-captain Harmanpreet Kaur and wicket-keeper batter Karuna Jain forged in an able fourth wicket partnership 106 runs off 157 balls to steady the Indian innings.

After the departure of Karuna off Arran Brindle, former India skipper Jhulan Goswami played a cameo of 19 runs before being caught brilliantly by Heather Knight. Kaur added 53 runs with Reema Malhotra, but it was all over for the hosts when they lost three wickets -- Malhotra, Amita Sharma and Niranjana Nagrajan -- in three consecutive balls at the team score of 225 runs.

Earlier, skipper Charlotte Edwards led from the front with a hundred to help defending champions England overcome a poor start and post a challenging 272 for 8. Edwards hit a captain's knock of 109 to become the highest run-scorer in women's cricket with 4901 runs, surpassing Aussie Belinda Clarke's 4,844. She also became the 4th woman to score over a 1,000 runs in World Cup.