England pip New Zealand for third spot

England rode captain Charlotte Edwards’ unbeaten century to beat New Zealand by four wickets and finish third in the ICC Women’s World Cup at the Brabourne stadium on Friday.

Chasing a modest 221 for victory, Edwards played a captain’s knock, scoring an unbeaten 106 off 121 deliveries with the help of 15 fours to take England to 222 in 47 overs.

Apart from Edwards, Lydia Greensway (31), Sarah Taylor (28) and Arran Brindle (27) also made useful contributions with the bat to guide England home. Off-spinner Lucy Doolan was the most successful bowler for New Zealand scalping three wickets for 50 runs, while pacer Sian Ruck picked up two wickets for 20 runs.

Sent into bat, Amy Satterthwaite struck a fluent 85 to guide New Zealand to 220 for eight.Left-arm spinner Holly Colvin shone with the ball for England, picking up three wickets for 31 runs while Aaran Brindle (2/38) dismissed two Kiwi batswomen.

England’s chase, however, did not start on a good note as the defending champions lost opener Danielle Wyatt (5) early. Edwards, who became the first woman cricketer to amass 5,000 runs in ODIs, Taylor then forged a 78-run second-wicket stand, before Taylor was caught off Doolan’s bowling. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka finished fifth in the tournament, thrashing South Africa by 87 runs at Cuttack. 

Sri Lanka made 243 for seven , and then restricted the African side to 156 all out in 40.1 overs.