Satterthwaite ton in vain as England win

Holly Colvin and Danielle Wyatt made crucial strikes in the final overs to secure a 15-run victory for England in its Super Six clash in the ICC Women's World Cup 2013 against New Zealand at the Brabourne stadium in Mumbai on Wednesday (February 13).

New Zealand couldn't get over the line after England had made 266 for six, despite a brilliant counter-attacking century from Amy Satterthwaite and an equally crucial 79 from Suzie Bates, the captain, in a match that turned out to be a rehearsal of the third place play-off.

The game started as one that could have been a virtual semifinal, but interest died within 80 minutes of play, when West Indies made it to the final after beating Australia by eight runs in an early start at the MIG ground in Mumbai, bringing England's title hopes to an end.

Chasing 267, New Zealand ended their innings at 251 for nine. Bates and Satterthwaite had shrugged off the early dismissal of Lucy Doolan, who fell to Arran Brindle in the third over, to put on a 134-run stand for the second wicket. Untroubled for the best part of their association, Bates and Satterthwaite displayed some attractive stroke-play and thrived against seamers and spinners alike, to bring up the first 100 runs of their partnership off 126 balls.

In the absence of Anya Shrubsole, the tournament's leading wicket-taker who didn't take the field due to a side strain, the England attack lacked intensity. Katherine Brunt missed her new-ball partner, as Bates targeted her for most part of her spell. England finally managed a breakthrough when Jenny Gunn castled Bates in the 29th over.

Satterthwaite, who had played second fiddle to Bates, then came into her own to bring up her second One-Day International century from 120 balls with a boundary off Holly Colvin. With 52 required off 36 balls, England made a comeback when Wyatt foxed Satterthwaite into taking the aerial route only for Charlotte Edwards to pouch a brilliant catch at extra cover. Thereafter, the middle-order collapse let New Zealand down as it went from 214 for four in 43.5 overs to 237 for nine in 48.3 overs.

When the day began, England made a measured start after opting to bat, with Edwards and Wyatt putting on a 59-run partnership, before Nicola Browne took low catch at long-on to dismiss Wyatt of Morna Nielsen's bowling.

Sarah Taylor, who had a dismal run in this tournament with three ducks in a row, came up with her best show, but probably found her touch a little late, with England already out of the tournament. She made a fluent 88 off 79 balls.

Taylor had a slice of luck when she had just got off the mark and was dropped by Doolan at deep midwicket. The drop proved to be expensive as Taylor brought up her 50 in just 57 balls, laced with four boundaries. She survived another scare as she was caught by Nicola Browne off a no-ball by Bates and eventually went on to smash a six from the free-hit. But Taylor soon ran out of luck when she perished to an ambitious hoick off Bates' bowling.

Thereafter Lydia Greenway and Laura Marsh added 23 runs for the fourth wicket before Nielsen bowled Marsh out. Doolan, who replaced Frances MacKay in the playing XI, grabbed two late wickets but the damage had already been done as England had amassed 228 runs in 46.5 overs. Heather Knight and Jenny Gunn then came together in an entertaining cameo, adding 38 runs from 19 balls for the seventh wicket.

Sian Ruck and Rachel Candy, New Zealand's new ball pair, failed to make an impact as they remained wicketless.