Amy Satterthwaite scored a scintillating 103 (126b, 16x4) and rekindled interest in an inconsequential match, but in spite of her delightful stroke-play and powerful hitting, New Zealand went down by 15 runs to England in the last Super Six league match of the ICC women’s World Cup match at the Brabourne Stadium here on Wednesday.
After losing Lucy Doolan in the fourth over, Amy and her captain Suzie Bates (highest run-getter of the competition with 386 runs) attacked the England bowling to put on 134 for the second wicket. But after their exit, New Zealand lost its way altogether with the last seven wickets falling for 55 runs.
The two teams will once again feature in the play-off to determine third and fourth place at the Brabourne on Friday. Hoping to make the final, England began on a serious note. The defending champion actually did not have to fear the worst with the West Indies being bowled out for 164 by Australia.
Captain Charlotte Edwards and Danielle Wyatt raised a half-century stand for the first wicket and thereafter Sarah Taylor scattered the ball all over the park with some meaty blows, but half way through the England innings came the news that the Merissa Aguilleira-led West Indies had caused the biggest upset by defeating Australia by eight runs.
This bit of information hurt England and eliminated it from the title match next Sunday. Charlotte scored a composed half-century (54, 83b, 9x4), and probably did not feel tired playing second fiddle once Sarah arrived. In indifferent form right through the competition, partly because of a troublesome hamstring that made her sit out the first match, Sarah did not waste time dominating the Kiwi bowling.
She provided the acceleration in the batting Power Play and departed after making a dazzling 79-ball 88 with 15 fours and a six. Some hefty blows by Lydia Greenway, Heather Knight and Jennifer Gun saw England post a stiff total.
The scores :
England 266 for six in 50 overs (C. Edwards 54, S. Taylor 88) bt New Zealand 251 for nine in 50 overs (Suzie Bates 79, Amy Satterthwaite 103, Holly Colvin three for 48).
