England retained their place as the top-ranked women’s team after beating Australia by 34 runs in the quadrangular series final at Wormsley.Lydia Greenway hit six fours and a six, her eighth one-day half century, and Sarah Taylor added 43 from 48 balls as England made 230-8 after being put in.Katherine Brunt then struck twice in the opening over of Australia’s reply and finished with a career-best 5-18.Jess Cameron (75) hit two sixes but the Aussies were all out in the 48th over.England saw a six-match unbeaten run come to an end when they lost by seven wickets against Australia in the final group match on Tuesday.
But Greenway guided them to a useful total, mixing sweeps with powerful drives down the ground and launching the only six of the innings over long-off. Brunt was on a hat-trick when she dismissed Leah Poulton first ball and soon collected a third wicket by bowling Shelley Nitschke, the Australia opener, who was playing her final international.Isa Guha captured her 100th one-day international wicket to end a promising innings from Alex Blackwell and Brunt returned to remove Cameron and then Sarah Coyte, who fell to a fine catch by Arran Brindle at point.Skipper Charlotte Edwards said: “I’m really proud of the team for their performance today and throughout the series.
“We’ve worked hard and seen contributions throughout the team and once again raised our game in an important final.”It’s been a great summer series and fantastic to play again the top teams in the world, I’m delighted with what we have achieved and to retain our number one status means everything to me.”Brunt won Player of the Match said: “I’m so pleased I was able to contribute to the teams success today to pick up my best figures is a bonus. It was a great effort by all the girls we all put in the effort and were rewarded with the win.”In the third-place play-off, India beat New Zealand by 32 runs at Aston Rowant. – BBC
