England stars shine brightest at Super Fours at Taunton

Knight Riders beat The Braves by 7 wickets
Super Strikers beat The V Team by 9 wickets

Claire Taylor and Laura Newton registered the top batting scores of the day as they joined together to ensure The Super Strikers beat The V Team by 9 wickets at King's College, Taunton in the opening round of Super Fours, the competition for elite women's cricketers.

Taylor raced to an unbeaten 85, from as many balls, and Newton finished on 80 not out in an unbeaten partnership of 157 with both England batters hitting twelve fours.

Laura Spragg, the young England and Yorkshire bowler, returned the best figures of the day, also for The Super Strikers, taking 4-24 despite early resistance from England opener Kathryn Leng.

Over the hill at King's College and under the watchful gaze of Marcus Trescothick, youngsters Lydia Greenway and Caroline Atkins impressed with an unbeaten partnership of 67 - finishing on 54 and 31 respectively - as Knight Riders beat last year's Super Fours champions, The Braves.

The Braves and England Captain, Clare Connor, was dismissed early by England's record-breaking wicket-taker and Vodafone Player of the Year, Lucy Pearson. Connor was caught at slip by Helen Wardlaw and was the first of Pearson's four victims in her first spell of bowling since cutting down Australia in Sydney in February.

Speaking after the opening round of matches, England Head Coach, John Harmer said "these players have come a long way since Super Fours began last year - especially the youngsters who toured with England such as Lydia. This year's competition will be tough and there are places up for grabs against South Africa this summer".

Perhaps the fiercest competition will be for the place of England's 'keeper with Taylor adding a competent performance behind the stumps to her stylish innings and Jane Cassar (Knight Riders) showing a sharpness of old as both attempt to push Mandie Godliman (The Braves).