Australia Women v NZ Women, Quadrangular Series, Chennai

Claire Taylor steers England to third place

Cricinfo staff

March 5, 2007

England 220 for 4 (Claire Taylor 77*, Sarah Taylor 52) beat India 219 (Dhar 74, Raj 55) by 6 wickets
Scorecard

Half-centuries from the two Taylors helped England hunt down a competitive Indian total and finish third in the Quadrangular tournament in Chennai. It meant that India, who won three of their seven games, finished last while England, with just a solitary triumph, ended third. Australia had earlier clinched the title by hammering New Zealand.

India, having chosen to bat, were in early trouble at 21 for 2 but their experienced pair of Anjum Chopra and Mithali Raj bailed them out with a couple of half-centuries. Hemlata Kala provided the boost with a 30-ball 25. England's bowlers shared the spoils - Holly Colvin, the left-arm spinner, ended with three wickets while Isa Guha and Lynsey Askew ended with two each.

England's chase didn't have too many hiccups. Sarah Taylor struck six fours in her 54-ball 52 and shared a 83-run opening stand with Jenny Gunn. Claire Taylor continued their good work with a polished 78 and, along with Lydia Greenway, helped England cross the tape.

India's captain Raj was expectedly downcast after the result. "The team didn't come out from the previous defeat," she admitted referring to the close loss to Australia in what was a virtual semi-final. "The girls were low in confidence. We were also playing at a different ground and had no idea of the pitch conditions. England have played a lot more of their matches here. Personally I got some runs today and I don't think I have been going through a bad patch. I haven't lost momentum in getting runs. All I need to do is convert the 20s and 30s into bigger scores."

Rumeli Dhar, who ended with 1 for 32 from his nine overs, was satisfied with her day's effort. "My idea of bowling has always been to maintain line and length," she said at the end of the day. "I just concentrate on bowling outside the off stump. India's fielding has been poor but as a bowler I cannot worry about it because that will only harm me. It was good to also get runs today. New Zealand have been the toughest side to bowl to and in New Zealand Rebecca Rolls is the batsman to watch out for. She has height in her favour. You have to think and bowl to her. Anything short pitched or over pitched and she'll hit you. You have to always bowl outside the off stump to her."

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Matches

India Women v England Women at Chennai

Players/Umpires

Anjum Chopra

Holly Colvin

Rumeli Dhar

Isa Guha

Jenny Gunn

Mithali Raj

Claire Taylor

Sarah Taylor

Series/Tournaments

Women's Quadrangular Series

Teams

Australia

New Zealand