Asserting their supremacy, world champions Australia registered a six-wicket win over New Zealand to win the ICC Quadrangular women's limited overs tournament in Chennai on Monday.
In the third-fourth place play-off encounter, England beat hosts India by six wickets to finish third. India, who elected to bat, were bowled out for 219 in 49.2 overs. In reply, England coasted to the victory target, scoring 220 for 4 in 46.2 overs.
In the final, the New Zealand batswomen, barring the seventh wicket pair of Sarah Tsukigawa (39) and Nicola Browne (41), whose partnership yielded 58 runs, failed miserably as they could muster only 177 for 9 in their 50 overs,. For Australia, the chief wicket-takers were medium pacers Kirsten Pike (3/21) and Cathryn Fitzpatrick (2/27).
The Aussies, who had lost to New Zealand earlier in the tournament, showed their superior skills in batting as openers Melissa Bulow (50) and Shelly Nitschke (81) laid a solid foundation putting on 120 runs for the first wicket.
Lisa Sthalekar, who remained uneaten with 32 saw her team through till the end as Australia scored 181 for four in 38.2 overs.
The English women scored their first win in seven matches to clinch the third place. India had defeated England twice in the league stage, but today they failed to get past the visitors.
India got off to a poor start as they lost three quick wickets for 54 runs off 15.1 overs. However, captain Mithali Raj (55) and Rumeli Dhar (74) resurrected the innings with a 76-run partnership, before the former was caught by Beth Morgan off Holly Colvin.
Dhar and Hemlata Kala (25 run out) put on 53 runs for the sixth wicket as India could only score 219.
In reply, the English openers Sarah Taylor and Jenny Gunn kept the Indian bowlers at bay until the 17th over with a stand of 83 before the latter was bowled by Rumeli Dhar for 39.
Claire Taylor anchored the run chase with a fine knock of 77 from 98 balls, including nine boundaries.
Lisa Sthalekar, an Aussie of Indian origin, who aggregated 396 runs in seven matches at an average of 99 was declared the women of the tournament.
