England Women win clean sweep in Natwest IT20 series v South Africa

England women rounded off a fine summer of one-day cricket by completing a 3-0 series sweep of South Africa at Edgbaston Stadium.

South Africa won the toss and invited England to bat first, skipper Charlotte Edwards suffered her first dismissal of the series after she was athleticly caught at mid-on by Lizelle Lee from a leading edge off Marizanne Kapp for 4.

Opening partner Lauren Winfield marshalled the innings in her absence with a fine 74 and Kent player Lydia Greenway scored 20 not out from 19 balls as Chloe Tyro claimed 2-18 for the tourists.

Chasing 127 for a consolation win, Dane van Niekerk (35) and Trisha Chetty (34) gave South Africa a strong start but tidy death bowling under pressure from Jenny Gunn (2-18) restricted the total to 118 – handing the hosts an eight-run win.

Building on a 2-0 win in the Royal London One-Day International series win against India, Charlotte Edwards lifted the Natwest IT20 trophy after being named player of the series award for 141 runs in the three matches.

Reflecting on England women’s international summer, the Kent and England skipper said: “I’m absolutely delighted with how strongly we have come back from the disappointment of losing the Kia Women’s Test match at the start of August.

"To win our next five matches in a row, including a 3-0 whitewash against an up and coming South Africa side in this NatWest IT20 series, is testament to the strength of character and belief that runs throughout the squad.

“I personally have had a great few weeks with the bat and am feeling as good as I ever have done at the crease.

"It has also been really pleasing to see several of the other senior players deliver some strong performances under pressure. Jenny Gunn in particular has bowled brilliantly, Sarah Taylor has lived up to her own high standards behind the stumps, and it’s just great to see Katherine Brunt charging in with the new ball again.

“We now have a few months without any international cricket, before we fly out to New Zealand in February for the second round of our ICC Women’s Championship campaign.

"Before then, I will be heading to Australia in October with Heather Knight and Sarah Taylor to play state cricket in the Australian Women’s National Cricket League.

"The rest of the England women’s squad will resume training at the National Cricket Performance Centre (NCPC) in Loughborough throughout the winter in preparation for the New Zealand tour.”

England women will next be in action in February 2015 when they will travel to New Zealand to play a five match One-Day International series and three match International Twenty20 series against the White Ferns.

The first three ODIs on February 11, 13 and 15 at the Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, will form England’s second round of matches in the new ICC Women’s Championship.