Tamsin Beaumont became the first English woman to hit back to back One Day International centuries as England made it three successive 50-over victories against Pakistan, at the Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton.
Tammy Beaumont of England celebrates (Photo Getty Images for the ECB)
The 25-year-old, who was dropped on two and 64, made the most of her good fortune, by posting the second highest score by an English woman in One Day International cricket.
In the end, England won by 202 runs with Pakistan, in reply to England’s 366-4, bowled out for 164, in the 45th over.
Having won the toss on a typically flat Taunton wicket, England found few difficulties in coping with the Pakistan attack. Beaumont and Lauren Winfield (43), who put on 235 for the first wicket at Worcester, last Wednesday, made a decent start before Winfield became Sana Mir’s first of two victims, caught by Maham Tariq, at mid off, at 59 for 1.
Thereafter, there was precious little over which to enthuse for the tourists as England made the most of the friendly conditions and some poor fielding.
Beaumont passed 50 off 70 balls and featured in a thrilling 166-run partnership with Georgia Elwiss, who put behind her two modest contributions, with the bat, to score 77 from 78 balls. She passed 50 off 57 balls before being bowled by Mir at 225 for 2 in the 39th over.
The arrival of Natalie Scriver brought even greater agony for Pakistan. With Beaumont in full flow, the pair added 119 off just 58 balls, in 39 minutes . Sciver struck six fours and a six in her 48 off 22 deliveries.
Beaumont posted her century off 111 balls, with nine fours, and reached 150 off 133 balls with a further eight boundaries.
Katherine Brunt celebrates another wicket (Photo: Getty Images for the ECB)
Pakistan, who were never likely to trouble England’s considerable total, found themselves in early trouble when Katherine Brunt held on to a regulation catch to dismiss Sidra Ameen, for nine, with the score on 16 for 1.
Three runs later, Anya Shrubshole picked up the wicket of Javeria Khan. This time Winfield was the catcher as Pakistan slumped to 19 for 2.
Brunt, who bowled with great accuracy and at times, hostility, took her first wicket in the eighth over. Nain Abidi attempted to hook a short delivery from the Barnsley-born pace bowler who will celebrate her 31st birthday on Saturday .
Unfortunately, instead of dispatching the England quick bowler to the boundary, as planned, she gloved a catch to wicket keeper Amy Jones. 22 for 3.
Faced with a near impossible situation, Pakistan did their best to make a decent fist of things. Bismah Maroof and Sidra Nawaz added 74 off 92 balls, for the fourth wicket and Nawaz and Mir 21 for the fifth. However, when Nawaz departed, bowled by Laura Marsh for 47, in the 31st over, Pakistan’s hopes of getting within 150, had all but disappeared.
Marsh returned the figures of 3 for 29 and Shrubsole 2 for 17. However, Brunt was the pick of the England attack, finishing with 5 for 30 off 9.5 overs as Pakistan were bowled out for 164 off the penultimate ball of the 45th over.
England women v Pakistan women – 3nd Royal London One-Day International, The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton
England women won the toss and elected to bat
England women – 366-4 (Tammy Beaumont 168*, Georgia Elwiss 77)
50 overs
Pakistan women – 164 (Katherine Brunt 5-30, Laura Marsh 3-29)
44.5 overs
England women won by 202 runs
England women secure 2 ICC Women’s Championship points
England women win Royal London One-Day International series 3-0
Report courtesy of the ECB
