23 Mar 2009

England beats NZ to win women's cricket World Cup

9:43 am on 23 March 2009

England have beaten New Zealand by four wickets to win the women's cricket World Cup in Sydney.

Chasing New Zealand's total of 166, the England victory was set up by a 79 run partnership between Sarah Taylor and Caroline Atkins for the first wicket.

They lost wickets after that, but Nicky Shaw with 17 not out steered England to their first World Cup title since 1993.

Earlier, Shaw had been the chief destroyer of the New Zealand innings, taking four for 34.

At 101 for seven the White Ferns were in serious trouble but Lucy Doolan hit a career best 48 off 57 balls as she and Nicola Browne put on 63 runs for the eighth wicket.

Doolan followed up her good batting by taking three wickets for 23 from her 10 overs with the ball.