England women clinch ODI series

Third women's one-day international, Chelmsford:
England 151-8 (29 ovs) beat Australia 150-8 (29 ovs) by 2 wickets
Match scorecard

England's women clinched their one-day international series against Australia after winning the third ODI on Friday.

Needing two to win from the final ball, Laura Marsh hit the winning runs as England claimed an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

Australia managed 150-8 in a game which was reduced to 29 overs, after seamer Nicky Shaw took two early wickets.

England slipped from 62-1 to 73-4, despite Caroline Atkins' 35, but Marsh eventually guided the hosts home.

It was England's first ODI series win against Australia since 1976, and the first time they had won three consecutive international matches in a series against the Aussies.

Earlier at Stratford-upon-Avon, captain Charlotte Edwards - back after illness - won the toss and asked Australia to bat first.

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Shaw did the early damage with the ball for England, taking the wickets of Shelley Nitschke for a duck and Leah Poulton for seven.

Lisa Sthalekar (38) and Lauren Ebsary (40) steadied the ship, putting on 79 for the fourth wicket, but Sthalekar's dismissal by Beth Morgan sparked a collapse.

The tourists slumped from 102-3 to 105-7 as England restricted them to what proved a makeable target.

Although England soon lost wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor, a centurion in the second ODI, her opening partner Atkins set England on their way.

Atkins added 41 with Claire Taylor (16), the top batter in the world rankings, but both fell in quick succession.

When Edwards was trapped lbw for seven, England had lost their top four - so often their match-winners with the bat - for 73.

But Morgan (18) and Katherine Brunt (13) helped push the score along before Jenny Gunn (11 not out) and Marsh (eight not out) guided them to their target.

Edwards said: "It was a really special day - Australia are our strongest rivals but we have created history and it is an amazing thing to be part of.

"Today was a solid team performance and it was great to see our lower-order batters performing when it counted."

The fourth one-day international will be played at Wormsley on Sunday.

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