England women win again at Essex

Wednesday, July 1, 2009 -- England has gone 2-0 up in the five ODI series against the Australian women by beating them by 55 runs in the second game at Essex. Earlier, England had won the first game on the same ground by routing the Aussies by nine wickets.

Wicket-keeper Sarah Taylor was the star player of the game again and won her second successive player-of-the-match award, as she smashed a run-a-ball 120, to guide England to a strong 259/6 in their fifty overs. She was ably supported by Claire Taylor and Beth Morgan, who hit 42 and 41 respectively, as England ran away to a score of 259/6 in their allocated fifty overs.

In reply, the Aussies lost the wicket of Leah Poulton early, but Shelley Nitschke and Lisa Sthalekar steadied the inning with an 85-run stand that came in quick enough time to cause flutters in the English camp. However, it was the dismissal of Nitschke – bowled by Laura Marsh – that started the downslide for the tourists, who collapsed from 87/1 and 107/2 to 204 all out with 38 balls to spare.

Stand-in captain, Nicky Shaw bagged 3/39 off her near-ten overs, while Laura Marsh ended with figures of 3/33 in her ten overs.

The two teams now meet at Stratford-upon-Avon to play their third game, which the Aussies have to win to survive in the series.