England women win World T20
England's womens team now hold the World Twenty20, the Ashes and the World Cup
Also In The News
|
Capital/EMI, out now. |  |
Sunday, 21, Jun 2009 11:27
An overwhelming display of bowling accuracy helped England's women win the World Twenty20 final against New Zealand at Lord's.
Charlotte Edwards' side restricted New Zealand to 85 all out from their 20 overs. That target was never going to be enough and England, despite the loss of top-order wickets, finished the job with three overs to spare.
England were on top from the word go with keeper Sarah Taylor stumping Suzie Bates off the innings' sixth ball.
A boundary from the last ball of the second over avoided a maiden and an inswinger from Katherine Brunt cleaned up skipper Aimee Watkins in the fourth over, placing the White Ferns wholly on the back foot.
A boundary from Lucy Doolan helped them break free but after five overs the score was 18-2.
A maiden from Brunt, consisting mainly of more inswinging yorkers and some very accurate bowling, followed, but it was in her final over that the momentum swung decisively towards England.
First Doolan gave her wicket away in a tenuous attempt to emulate Tillekaratne Dilshan's scoop, succeeding only in nudging the ball behind to the keeper.
Then big-hitting Rachel Priest was caught and bowled, sending one straight into the air. Brunt took 3-6 from her four overs, deservedly taking the player of the match award.
The new bowling pair, Nicky Shaw and Holly Colvin, kept up the good work. Nicola Browne was bowled in the 11th over and it was a case of singles and the occasional two as Amy Satterthwaite cautiously struggled.
The wickets fell more quickly in the final third of the innings, with Satterthwaite finally out in the 18th over. Her 19, the top score of the innings, came from 42 frustrated balls.
The tail showed some spirit to advance New Zealand from 49-6 after 15 overs, however. Kate Pulford hit a boundary off her first ball – even if it was edged through the gully area – and she followed it up with a more authoritative pull off a full toss.
Two wickets in the final over by Edwards wrapped things up, with an ill-advised second run leaving Sophie Devine well out of her ground.
England received an early setback in their run-chase as Edwards was bowled for nine in the fourth over. But keeper Priest couldn't quite hold on to an edge two overs later, a must if the White Ferns were to pull off an improbable victory.
Despite the loss of Sarah Taylor for 23 off 33 balls in the ninth over England never looked like being in trouble. Claire Taylor held the innings together, a firm straight drive for four a highlight, as the batswomen accelerated in the second half of the innings.
The loss of Beth Morgan (6 off 17 balls) and Lydia Greenway (3 off seven) proved only minor setbacks as the win came with a canter. Ten runs came off the 17th over as England won with a confident strike over the bowler's head.
It was appropriate that Taylor struck the winning runs. Her unbeaten 39 off 32 balls was the innings of the match – and helped her win the player of the tournament award.
Edwards, whose side has notched up another big win just months after the World Cup win in Australia, was delighted.
"It was a good toss to win and it was our best bowling and fielding performance of the tournament today," she said.
"I didn't think it could get better than Sydney but it has today."