England claimed the third place in the 2013 ICC Women’s World Cup with a four-wicket win over New Zealand at the Brabourne Stadium. Chasing 221, Captain Charlotte Edwards guided England to victory with a century.
The opening batter reached several personal landmarks on her way to an unbeaten 106. She became the first women cricketer to score 5000 runs in ODIs, she equaled Debbie Hockley and Karen Rolton’s record of two hundreds in one World Cup, and she also equaled Claire Taylor and Rolton’s record of eight centuries in ODIs. She also drew level with Janette Brittin as she became the second woman to tally four tons in World Cup competitions.
Although England lost Danielle Wyatt with just 10 runs on the scoreboard, Edwards held up one end and was involved in valuable partnerships with the batters to follow. With a 78-run partnership with Sarah Taylor for the second wicket, Edwards helped set up a solid platform for the chase. The England skipper who was 31 runs short of 5000 runs in ODIs prior to taking the field today, lofted Lucy Doolan over mid-wicket for four to get to the milestone.
The budding partnership however ended with Taylor hitting the ball straight to Doolan at mid-on to walk back for 28, and bring Lydia Greenway to the crease. With Edwards at the helm, England cruised steadily towards the target at around four-and-half runs per over. The duo negotiated the White Ferns' attack, until a diving catch by Suzie Bates saw the back of Greenway for 31.
Arran Brindle then joined the skipper and they added 58 runs, until Doolon removed Brindle. And a couple of deliveries later, the bowler claimed Heather Knight to give NZ two quick wickets, while Edwards was stranded on 99 at the other end. It was in the following over that Edwards reached her century with a single to backward square-leg. However, she lost yet another partner off the next ball to a run-out, leaving England on 202 for six. But Laura Marsh who then joined Edwards helped take their team to victory with a boundary.
Earlier, after get a decent start with a 42-run opening stand, New Zealand went on to set a 221-run target for England. Opening the batting with Frances Mackay, NZ skipper Suzie Bates made 21, before being sent back by Jenny Gunn. Amy Satterthwaite who then took guard picked up where she had left off in the previous innings. The No.3 bat who had notched up a century in the last game against the same opposition anchored the innings with a 95-ball 85-run knock. After her 34-run partnership with Mackay ended, Satterthwaite lost two more partners in quick succession.
But with NZ on 99 for four, Satterthwaite found an able partner in Katie Perkins and the duo added 59 runs for the fifth wicket. The highest partnership for the White Ferns was halted when Perkins was stumped off Danielle Hazell. Rachel Priest then joined Satterhwaite in taking the innings forward with a little over seven overs left in the innings. But a few overs later, Holly Colvin struck to remove Priest and Satterthwaite off successive deliveries and was on a hat-trick when Lucy Doolan came out to face her. The opener, coming down the order, pushed the left-arm spinner to square-leg to get off the mark with a single.
Nicola Browne then swung her bat around and slammed four boundaries and a six as she and Doolan added 36 runs off 19 balls to take NZ to 220 at the end of the innings. Doolan was caught at the boundary off Brindle while attempting to clear the ropes off the last ball, whereas Browne remained not-out on 27.
Brief scores: New Zealand 220/8 in 50 overs (A Satterthwaite 85, F Mackay 30, H Colvin 3/31, A Brindle 2/38) lost to England 222/6 in 47 overs (C Edwards 106*, L Greenway 31, L Doolan 3/50) by four wickets
Player of the Match: Charlotte Edwards for her match-winning century
Note: In the fifth place play-off, Sri Lanka beat South Africa by 88 runs in Cuttack.
