England players help Otago to win practice match
In the first practice match on their tour to New Zealand, England's women have lost to New Zealand state side, Otago, having fielded four England players in the Otago line up
ECB Media Release
25-Dec-2009
England: 193-9 (50 overs)
Otago: 195-8 (41 overs)
In the first practice match on their tour to New Zealand, England's women have lost to New Zealand state side, Otago, having fielded four England players in the Otago line up.
Coach, John Harmer, was keen for the whole squad to play in the one-day match and Otago retained their overseas player Clare Taylor (Yorkshire), who was joined by Claire Taylor (Berkshire), Arran Thompson (Lancashire) and Lucy Pearson (Staffordshire). Claire Taylor also kept wicket for the New Zealand side.
England's young bowlers Nicky Shaw (Notts) and Laura Spragg (Yorkshire) finished with the figures of 3-30 and 3-31 respectively, and Sarah Collyer (Somerset) top-scored for England with 44, followed closely by Captain, Clare Connor, who made 40.
A second wicket partnership for Otago ensured they reached the England total with Clare Taylor and New Zealand's leading all-rounder Rachel Pullar reaching 43 and 69 respectively.
Pullar has confirmed that she will not take part in the first women's quadrangular tournament due to family commitments.
England Assistant Coach, Jane Powell said: "Some players are, inevitably, a little rusty but those players who have been in New Zealand and Australia this winter were in good form, particularly Clare Taylor and Sarah Collyer.
"One part of our game we have been working on is building middle order partnerships, and all the England top order players made decent scores today and worked well together. It was a useful experiment and we'll do the same tomorrow before settling on a team to face New Zealand 'A' later this week."
The quadrangular series between hosts New Zealand, England, Australia and India begins on 27th January and sees England take on India at Lincoln University, Christchurch.