England’s cricket women show the men just how it should be done
Last updated 23/03/2009 09:46:48
England Women win ICC World Cup
Four years of meticulous preparation paid off for England's women's cricket team when they beat New Zealand in Australia to take the ICC World Cup.
The women showed the men, who have won only once this winter and that with a farcical end to a one day match in the Caribbean, just how it should be done when they fulfilled their number one ranking by beating the Kiwis by four wickets in Sydney.
England's dedicated captain Charlotte Edwards hailed her team's victory as a special day for women's cricket. She admitted she felt jittery as England lost five wickets for 40 runs before beating New Zealand by four wickets with 23 balls remaining.
She said: "It's something we have been working towards for four years. I don't think it will sink in for a while, but this is a special moment and we'll remember this for the rest of our lives. The team have been amazing."
The English lost only once and that a dead match to the hosts Australia who had already been put to the sword by New Zealand who England also beat in the preliminaries.
England's bowlers dismissed the Kiwis for 166 and seemed on course for an overwhelming win when openers Sarah Taylor and Caroline Atkins guided them to within halfway of the total for the first wicket. But Lucy Doolan hauled New Zealand back into the game by taking the wickets of Taylor, Atkins and Edwards to spark a slump and finish with figures of 3-23.
It was left to player of the match Nicky Shaw, who finished unbeaten on 17 after earlier taking 4-34, and Holly Colvin to steer the team over the finishing line. Shaw only knew she was playing at the last minute when she replaced the injured Jenny Gunn in the line up.