England’s women finish cricket tour of South Africa unbeaten
Last updated 10/31/2011 10:38:38 AM
England’s women finish cricket tour of South Africa unbeaten
England's women cricketers showed their men and thing orb two when they finished off their tour of South Africa with another runaway win.
While the men struggled in India, with just a single 20twenty victory in their six games, the girls cruised to yet another success with a seven-wicket win against South Africa in the third and final Twenty20 international to complete an unbeaten tour at Potchefstroom.
The super professional English restricted South Africa to 118-2 from their 20 overs after Cri-Zelda Brits (50) and Trisha Chetty (33) had thrown down the gauntlet by putting on 81 for the first wicket.
Laura Marsh fell cheaply but Sarah Taylor (39) and Lydia Greenway (31 not out) added 77 to steer England home to a 2-0 series win with one game abandoned through rain. Greenway, Taylor and captain Charlotte Edwards (22) were the mainstays of the batting order once more, as they sealed victory with a massive 25 balls to spare.
Arran Brindle hit two fours in the final over, before Kirstie Thomson sent down five wides to end the match.
Having also won the one-day international series 3-0, England can look back with some pleasure on a triumphant year which had already seen them beat the Aussies, New Zealand and India at home in both 20 and 50 over matches.
Edwards said: "I'm really pleased that we have managed to complete what we set out to do. We've played really positive cricket out here.
"Our bowling and fielding has got better throughout the trip. All the bowlers have had great spells and I thought Georgia Elwiss bowled exceptionally well in her first T20 international.
"The key players have really performed, people have taken responsibility and we have really good competition for places. That's a really good place to be.
"Sarah Taylor has had a fantastic trip, she's keeping and batting as well as I've ever seen her play and Lydia Greenway is in the form of her life."
The victorious England team are next in action in New Zealand in February and March and they will defend their ICC Women's World Twenty20 title in Sri Lanka next September.
ENGLAND'S TOP RUN SCORERS ON SOUTH AFRICA TOUR
255 - Lydia Greenway (210 in ODIs, 45 in T20s)
219 - Charlotte Edwards (140 in ODIs, 79 in T20s)
214 - Sarah Taylor (125 in ODIs, 89 in T20s)
134 - Arran Brindle (117 in ODIs, 17 in T20s)