England Women won the NatWest Women’s Series against South Africa 4-0, leaving them unbeaten in a one-day series this year.
Charlotte Edwards’ England were unbeaten throughout the series to oversee a whitewash over a developing South African side.
England took an early lead on August 6 at Canterbury with a 121-run win. Claire Taylor, the prolific run scorer top-scored with 83 to win the Player of the Match.
The teams then headed to Lord’s where England rose to the occasion of playing at the Home of Cricket. The hosts smashed records with Sarah Taylor and Caroline Atkins putting on 246 for the first wicket, the highest ever opening partnership for England in an ODI, male or female. Atkins made 145, only the third women ever to make a century at Lord’s. Taylor batted throughout the full fifty overs, and was dismissed on the last ball of the game for 129, becoming the fourth women to make a hundred on the hallowed turf of Lord’s.
Katherine Brunt made her mark on the South Africans taking 5-25 to see England through to a 225-run lead.
The third and fourth matches were held at the picturesque ground of Shenley where England took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the third, winning by 77 runs. The fourth was held on August 14 with England taking a six-wicket win.
The final match, scheduled for August 18 at Chesterfield, was rained off without a ball being bowled.
The presentation for the series will be held at Northamptonshire CCC on Saturday August 23 after the final of three NatWest Women’s International Twenty20s.
Captain Edwards said: “It’s great to win another series – it gives us huge confidence going into the Natwest Women’s Series against India and the three twenty20s which are coming up.
“It’s perfect preparation ahead of the ICC Women’s World Cup and the ICC World Twenty20 next year.
“We were disappointed to have the last game rained off especially at a lovely ground like Chesterfield. We’ll just have to keep our fingers crossed for better weather and a good game on Wednesday when we play the first NatWest Women’s International Twenty20.”
The NatWest Women’s International Twenty20 series kicks off at Chesterfield on Thursday at 3.30pm as England look to continue their domination over South Africa in the shortest form of the game.
The final two matches will be held at 2.30pm at Northamptonshire CCC on Friday August 22 and Saturday August 23.
