The England skipper now has more centuries in the 50-over game than any other player in the history of women’s cricket, and her unbeaten 108 was backed up by 4-23 from Jenny Gunn as the tourists fell just short at Scarborough.
After losing the toss and being inserted under grey skies, England openers Edwards and Heather Knight found scoring difficult as they compiled just 26 in the opening 10 powerplay overs.
Knight, who had already come close to being run out twice in successive balls, finally succumbed to a direct-hit from Shikha Pandey as she attempted a quick single to mid-on.
Sarah Taylor added some much needed impetus to the England innings as she and Edwards put on 50 for the second wicket in just 10.3 overs, but after the wicketkeeper saw a top-edged sweep loop over her own head and bowl her for 30 off Rajeshwari Gayakwad, India were able to apply the brakes to the hosts’ innings yet again.
Edwards brought up a patient half-century from 93 deliveries but, when Lauren Winfield was stumped off Gayakwad by Karuna Jain for 10, England found themselves languishing on 112 for three.
Jhulan Goswami returned to have Lydia Greenway and Tammy Beaumont both adjudged lbw in successive deliveries, and though Natalie Sciver survived the hat-trick delivery, the 22-year-old was forced to rebuild alongside her skipper through the batting powerplay.
The pair added 44 in 46 deliveries before Sciver handed Gayakwad her third wicket as she holed out to Punam Raut at long-off for 17.
Gunn, Danni Hazell and Anya Shrubsole all fell in the closing overs, and it was left to number 11 Kate Cross to help guide Edwards through to three figures.
The England captain - who was dropped by Jain on 80 - brought up her century with a cut for four, sparking wild celebrations in the middle.
Edwards eventually finished unbeaten on 108 from 145 balls, hitting 11 boundaries, as the home side posted a testing 214 for nine from their 50 overs.
Gayakwad returned career-best figures of 4-42 while Goswami finished with 3-30.
India began their chase in watchful fashion, though Smriti Mandhana was fortunate to survive a dropped chance by Greenway at point when on 15.
Cross was the unlucky bowler on that occasion, but she was soon amongst the wickets as Raut offered her a simple return catch.
