Edwards Half-Century Sets England Up For Tense Win
©Action Images / Paul Harding
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Edwards Half-Century Sets England Up For Tense Win
England Women 234-9 (Edwards 70, Browne 3-31) beat
New Zealand Women 231-8 (Fahey 61, Devine 50) by one wicket
First One-Day International, Taunton
Charlotte Edwards led by example with an innings of 70 as England Women took a thrilling one-wicket victory over New Zealand Women in the first One-Day International at Taunton.
Although Edwards was run out in the closing stages, with eight runs required to win, she had helped her side recover from 79 for four and a position from which victory was a long way off.
Set 232 to win the match, England lost Sarah Taylor (5) early as she became the first of three wickets for Nicola Browne before Claire Taylor (24), Heather Knight (32) and Beth Morgan (0) fell to off-spinner Lucy Doolan.
Jenny Gunn and Laura Marsh then both scored 31 to offer support to Edwards, who faced 81 balls and struck seven fours before her run out set up the nervy finale for the home side.
Katherine Brunt, who had earlier returned three for 31, then made an unbeaten nine having seen Holly Colvin (2) depart with six runs required for the win.
Half-centuries from opener Maria Fahey (61) and all-rounder Sophie Devine (50) propelled New Zealand to their score before Brunt removed Fahey, Natalie Dodd (0) and Browne to keep England in the contest.
Two wickets for Gunn and one apiece for Marsh and Colvin left the match in the balance at the halfway stage while Isa Guha marked her return to international cricket by conceding 32 runs in four overs and then ending the match back in the middle but not having to face as Brunt finished off the job with three balls to spare to hand England a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
The two sides return to the same venue for the second match on Monday 12th July.
© Cricket World 2010
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