England 162 for 2 (Bakewell 50, Watmough 50*) beat Australia 161 (Tredrea 54) by eight wickets
Scorecard

Rachael Heyhoe-Flint leads England onto the field © Cricinfo

The women did one-day cricket proud at Lord's yesterday when England gained revenge for Sunday's defeat by beating Australia by eight wickets - Australia making 161 in 59.4 overs and England 162 for 2 in 56.2 overs.

A crowd bigger than for many a mid-week county match applauded enthusiastically, especially towards the end, with England chasing runs against the fast bowling of Sharon Tredrea and the left-arm medium of Anne Gordon. Enid Bakewell and Lynne Thomas had given England a fine start by scoring 85 before a mix-up resulted in Mrs Bakewell being run out. Having bowled her left-arm spinners accurately for two wickets, she made a splendid 50.

She was succeeded by Chris Watmough, a left-hander who gave a splendid exhibition of batting, hitting eight fours, including the winning hit. She had the experienced support of her captain, Rachael Flint, in a final partnership of 69.

England made an encouraging start when June Stephenson had the formidable Lorraine Hill, century-maker in Sunday's match, caught at the wicket on the leg side off the second ball. Fifteen runs later, Glynis Hullah, bowled Janette Tredrea, Jan Lumsden was run out through a smart return by Janet Allen and Mrs Gordon was caught at the wicket off the slow left-arm bowling of Mrs Bakewell.

So Australia, probably nervous in the Lord's atmosphere, had a disastrous first hour, but they were rescued by the strong arm of Sharon Tredrea, supported by Wendy Hills. Fortunately for Australia, Miss Tredrea was missed at the wicket when two. Otherwise, the match would have been over much earlier. These two girls changed the shape of the game, Miss Tredrea hitting as powerfully as a man, driving and making one superb square cut.

The last Australian pair, Marie Lutschini and Wendy Blunsden, by admirable strokes and good running, added 32 for the last wicket.

Both sides fielded and threw athletically and the only difference from a men's match was the absence of genuine pace bowling and an inability to pierce a close-set field.