Women's World Cup: England scrape past New Zealand, result inconsequential
Sarah Taylor, who had flopped in the tournament with just 35 against India and later three ducks in a row, was fluent and made 88 off 77 balls. Her knock was laced with 15 fours and a six in the dead rubber. Her 89-minute stay came to an end when she was caught at mid-off by Nicola Browne off Suzie Bates.
Defending champions England earned a hard-fought 15-run victory over New Zealand in their inconsequential Super Six match at the ICC Women's cricket World Cup on Wednesday.
Defending champions England and last edition's runners-up New Zealand were knocked out of the tournament after West Indies upstaged Australia in an earlier match.
With the current match rendered inconsequential, England and New Zealand will now be pitted for a third place play-off.
In a match that almost seemed to be a rehearsal for the third place play off on Friday, chasing England's 266 for six, New Zealand were guided by skipper Suzie Bates (79) and vice-captain Amy Satterthwaite, who hit a century, but the team from Down Under could manage only 251 for nine.
The duo had stitched a 134-run partnership for the second wicket, after they lost opener Lucy Doolan (1) who was caught behind off all-rounder Arran Brindle in the fourth over.
Bates, who has been in good nick throughout the series, faced 94 balls to score 79. Her innings were studded with a dozen fours and a six before being castled by Jennifer Gunn.
Satterthwaite found her form in this match and she slammed 103 off 126 balls, laced with 16 fours, before being caught at extra cover off Danielle Wyatt.
The White Ferns soon lost wickets in clutch couldn't rebuild a partnership to get them over the line. Left-arm spinner Holly Colvin snapped up three wickets for 48 runs, while offie Wyatt and Jennifer Gunn dismissed two.
Earlier, Sarah Taylor, who had flopped in the tournament with just 35 against India and later three ducks in a row, was fluent and made 88 off 77 balls. Her knock was laced with 15 fours and a six in the dead rubber. Her 89-minute stay came to an end when she was caught at mid-off by Nicola Browne off Suzie Bates.