Charlotte Edwards insists England will not panic after the shock loss to Sri Lanka in their first 2013 Women’s World Cup game.

The holders were beaten by one wicket in a last-ball thriller at Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium as a spirited Sri Lanka chased 239.

England next face India on Sunday at the same venue, knowing they almost certainly need victory versus the hosts and West Indies on Tuesday to progress from Group A.

“We’ll pick ourselves up,” said the captain. “We’ve got a big game against India. It’s not all over. There’s no panic and we’ve got to dust ourselves down and come back on Sunday.”

Edwards’ side recovered from 29 for three to post 238 for eight thanks to contributions from the lower-middle order, most notably Jenny Gunn who hit 52.

Chamari Attapatu’s 62 inspired a strong top-order response before a blistering 56 from Eshani Kaulshalya, who was dropped on 11 by Gunn at long-on, took Sri Lanka to the brink of victory.

“We’re obviously disappointed, but what a game of cricket. Congratulations to Sri Lanka; they played a fantastic game today and we just weren’t good enough,” Edwards admitted.

“We were happy with 238 from the position we were in and it was just the big-hitting there at the end, (along with) a few catches dropped and a few mis-fields which really cost us.

“You can’t take away from what a great effort that was from Sri Lanka.

“I thought they bowled fantastically up front and that hitting there towards the end was something else.”

Sri Lanka skipper Shashikala Siriwardene encapsulated what the win means to her side.

“It’s like a dream come true for us. We’ve been waiting for this moment for 16 years maybe. It’s great,” she said.

“Our bowlers really did well and everything went as we planned.”

She described opening batter Atapattu as “a special player” and said of Kaushalya, who was run out with the scores level: “This will be the greatest match for her. Always while she was there she was calm, so there was no panic. I knew she would finish the match.”