England settle for third place in Women's World Cup

Mumbai - A century by England captain Charlotte Edwards helped her side to a four-wicket win over New Zealand Women in the third-fourth play-off at the Women’s World Cup here on Friday.

The victory for England will be bitter-sweet as the previously ranked world No.1 team has now dropped to third in the latest rankings.

In Cuttack, Sri Lanka’s Shashikala Siriwardena led her side back to glory, after their earlier loss to South Africa, to cement an 88-run victory over the Proteas in the match for fifth and sixth positions.

Edwards led from the front to ensure the England, the world champions going into this tournament, finished the event on a high with a victory over New Zealand in front of a lively crowd at the Cricket Club of India here.

Having won the toss, Edwards elected to field first and New Zealand posted 220 in 50 overs. Vice-captain Amy Satterthwaite once again was the cornerstone of the White Ferns’ innings with the 26-year-old from Christchurch scoring 85. Holly Colvin proved to be the pick of the England bowling attack with figures of 3-31, including two maidens while Arran Brindle claimed 2-38.

In reply, Edwards’ run-making was assisted by Sarah Taylor, Lydia Greenway and Brindle but it was clear the captain had her sights set on ensuring England salvaged a third-place finish in the tournament.

Edwards’ struck her second century of the tournament from 116 balls with 14 boundaries. This century sees her join Australia’s Karen Rolton and New Zealand’s Debbie Hockley as the only three women to have scored two centuries in a single World Cup, while she has equalled Hockley’s record of four centuries in World Cup.

Scores in Brief:

Third/Fourth Play-Off at CCI

New Zealand 220-8, 50 overs (Satterthwaite 85; Colvin 3-31)

England 222-6, 47 overs (Edwards 106 not out; Doolan 3-50)

England won by four wickets

Fifth/Sixth Play-Off at Barabati Stadium

Sri Lanka 244-7, 50 overs (Atapattu 52, Rasangika 43, Siriwardena 44, Kaushalya 43; Letsoalo 2-36) South Africa 156 all out, 40.1 overs (Fritz 54; Siriwardena 4-31)

Sri Lanka won by 88 runs