Milliken and Devine sink England

New Zealand Women 267 for 9 (Bates 48, Mason 48) beat England Women 240 (Askew 68, Milliken 4-42) by 27 runs
Scorecard

England Women slumped to a 27-run loss to New Zealand despite a brisk, aggressive 68 from Lynsey Askew, in the 12th match of the Women's Quadrangular Series at Chennai.

Chasing 268, England's top order was cut apart by Louise Milliken who picked up the first four wickets to fall. Reducing England to 42 for 4, which soon became 57 for 5, New Zealand had the game by the throat until Charlotte Edwards, the England captain, fought back with a combative 42 from 56 balls. When she edged Selena Charteris behind, there was little left from England until Askew mounted her fight-back, putting on 72 with Isa Guha (26).

England still needed 61 from their final ten overs and Askew's luck ran out when she was bowled by Sophie Devine. With her went England's chances, in spite of Guha's valiant lusty blows.

"I was happy with my innings but annoyed that I got out at the time I did," Askew told Cricinfo. "It's disappointing to be on the losing side of the tournament. But the fact that we have lost does not reflect on the talent in our team."

Unlike England's stuttering effort, New Zealand's batsmen were much more consistent. Suzie Bates anchored the top-order with a solid 48, sharing in a 80-run third-wicket stand with Sarah Tsukigawa (41), and there were useful contributions from Sara McGlashan (30) and Selena Charteris (20).

If their batsmen set up the win, it was New Zealand's bowlers who held their nerve - in particular Milliken. "It's pleasing to get such figures," she said. "It hasn't been a successful tournament for me so far. It got away from us in the middle though. But it was good to win, even though not convincingly."