Claire Taylor Celebrates 100th ODI With Series Win

Claire Taylor Celebrates 100th ODI With Series Win

Claire Taylor enjoyed her 100th ODI appearance - winning runs, top score, match and series win in Taunton.

©Action Images / Paul Harding

Claire Taylor Celebrates 100th ODI With Series Win

Mithali Raj hit her second half-century in a row.

©Action Images / Paul Harding Livepic

England Women 99-2 (C Taylor 29no, Sultana 1-11) beat
India Women 126-2 (Raj 55no, Brunt 1-10) by eight wickets (D/L)
Third One Day International, Taunton - England lead the series 3-0

Claire Taylor celebrated her 100th One Day International by hitting the winning run as England Women moved into an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series with an eight-wicket win over India Women at Taunton.

India Women dodged the rain showers to reach 126 for two, their highest score of the series so far, after they were asked to bat first and England then successfully chased 99 to win with more than four overs to spare.

They were rocked by an early loss of a wicket when Katherine Brunt got reward for a disciplined opening spell with Karu Jain trapped in front for four, but unlike in previous matches, India were able to consolidate and rebuild with Jaya Sharma and Mithali Raj putting on 98 for the second wicket.

The left-hand/right-hand combination worked well for India as England's bowlers struggled to match the consistency of Brunt, who conceded just ten runs from her eight overs.

Nicola Shaw finally broke the partnership when she had Sharma superbly stumped by Sarah Taylor for 42.

Raj reached her half-century shortly before a heavy downpour ended India's innings with Amita Sharma unbeaten on 11.

With a maximum of 21 overs available, England warmed up for the Twenty20 International tomorrow by opening with Charlotte Edwards alongside Sarah Taylor and they were given the flying start they wanted.

The pair put on 46 in quick time before Taylor was run out, misjudging a single on the on-side having made 24 and Edwards fell when she skied a sweep to be caught byy Niranjana off of Sultana for 25.

That set the stage for Claire Taylor to take her side home, ably assisted by some innovative strokes from promoted Lydia Greenway, who was unbeaten on 18.

Taylor guided the winning run to third man off the fourth ball of the 17th over to seal a perfect day for her, and the team, who claimed their third series in a row this summer as they continue to justify their tag of favourites for this winter's World Cup.

© Cricket World 2008