England slip to Australia defeat

By Stephan Shemilt BBC Sport in Mumbai England fell to an agonising two-run defeat by Australia that severely damages their chances of defending the Women's World Cup.

Last-wicket pair Anya Shrubsole and Holly Colvin looked on course to snatch England the most unlikely of wins, only for Colvin to be caught behind off Erin Osborne within one blow of victory.

In pursuit of 148, England had earlier been reduced to 39-6, only for Lydia Greenway (49) and Laura Marsh to drag them back into the contest with a painstaking stand of 57.

When they fell, the game looked to be up, but after coming together with 34 needed, Shrubsole and Colvin counter-attacked to keep England alive.

In the most dramatic of finales, however, Australia were able to strike the final, telling blow to extend the run that has seen them go unbeaten against England in World Cup matches since 1993.

"Everything went in England's favour today, they won the toss and bowled well but they've given this match away with poor batting and loose shots up top. On a pitch like this, there's no excuse for shots like that. I think Australia captain Jodie Fields was really aggressive and smart with her field placings."

In doing so they stay top of the Super Six table on six points and are on the verge of the final.

With only the top two teams going through, England now need to win their remaining two games against South Africa and New Zealand and hope other results go their way.

For that to happen, Charlotte Edwards's side must first recover from losing a game that looked to be within their grasp as new-ball pair Shrubsole and Katherine Brunt again wreaked havoc in the damp morning conditions in Mumbai.

The Aussies, so dominant in winning all their first-round matches, were reduced to 32-5 by the skilful swing and accuracy of England's pace duo.

Swinging the ball into the right-hander, Shrubsole accepted Rachael Haynes' return catch before bowling Jess Cameron with an unplayable yorker.

Then, in between Brunt and Jenny Gunn removing Alex Blackwell and Fields respectively, Shrubsole got the key wicket of Meg Lanning, who chased a wide one to edge behind.

It could have been worse for Jodie Fields' side had Lisa Sthalekar not been dropped on 11 by Greenway off the bowling of Gunn.

Sthalekar went on to make 41, adding 82 for the sixth wicket with Sarah Coyte, who contributed 44. It was a crucial stand in the context of the match, but England will know it was their own batting that cost them.

They may rue the poor umpiring decisions received by Edwards and Marsh, lbw to Megan Schutt and Coyte respectively when both deliveries looked to be drifting down the leg side.

However, in between, the top order were masters of their own downfall with Sarah Taylor, Danielle Wyatt and Arran Brindle all falling to poor shots.

And, after Heather Knight played all around Julie Hunter to be trapped lbw and Gunn was beaten by Holly Ferling's extra pace to be bowled middle stump, it completed a collapse of four wickets for two runs in three overs.

England looked to be in a hopeless position, only for the experienced duo of Greenway and Marsh to drag them back into the match.

With patient, risk-free batting, they ran well and accepted any loose deliveries that came, inching their way to a half-century stand in 136 balls.

'Poor shot selection' cost England

However, just as England were getting a foothold, Marsh was harshly given out leg before for 22 and Greenway patted 17-year-old Ferling to cover.

England looked beaten, but Shrubsole and Colvin had other ideas. With Colvin taking Sarah Coyte for three boundaries in an over and number 11 Shrubsole hitting Sthalekar over the top for another four, England strode towards their target.

But with Colvin looking for the winning runs, she got a feather through to Fields to hand victory to the Australians.

Elsewhere in the Super Sixes, New Zealand thrashed Sri Lanka by eight wickets  to move to four points from three games.

The Sri Lankans were bowled out for 103, with Lea Tahuhu taking four wickets before the Kiwis chased down the runs in 23 overs.

The West Indies also have four points following a two-wicket victory over South Africa.  

Chasing 231 to win, the Caribbean side survived a middle order collapse to scramble home in the 46th over.

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England suffer T20 warm-up defeat

England 170-5 (20 overs) lost to NZ XI 171-7 (20 overs) by three wickets

A late fightback by captain Stuart Broad proved in vain as England suffered a last-ball defeat by a New Zealand XI in their final warm-up game.

Jos Buttler hit a second successive half-century while Eoin Morgan also weighed in with 51 as the tourists reached 170-5 at the Cobham Oval.

The hosts were coasting to victory before three wickets fell for four runs, including Tom Latham for 64.

The final ball finish made it exciting for the big crowd, but it should not disguise a poor bowling performance from three of England's attack. 170 was a defendable total after Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler repeated their powerful hitting of the previous day. James Tredwell and Steven Finn had rare off days. Jade Dernbach threatened to rescue the match with a skilful final over, but his bowling earlier was reminiscent of his efforts in India that cost him his ODI place.

But Broad's 3-24 proved in vain, their opponents winning off the last ball.

Having won their opening warm-up game by 46 runs 24 hours earlier, Broad and his players have plenty to ponder ahead of Saturday's opening Twenty20 international with New Zealand in Auckland.

England opener Michael Lumb said Wednesday's defeat was an indication of how tough the three-match series would be.

"I think it will be tight," said the Nottinghamshire batsman. "A lot of people have written them off, but you can't take them lightly.

"It would be foolish to do that - they've just beaten South Africa in a one-day series over there. They're a proud nation, and they'll come really hard at us."

Buttler followed up his unbeaten 57 in the opening game with 51 off 31 deliveries, which included five fours and two sixes.

He put on 87 with Morgan, who also struck two sixes.

But it was not enough as New Zealand's openers Anton Devcich and Hamish Rutherford passed 50 in just 35 balls.

Rutherford's dismissal brought Latham to the crease and he wasted no time reaching 50 from 29 balls.

Steven Finn and James Tredwell struggled to make an impact for England, both going for 44 runs from their four overs.

But Lumb said the match provided the workout they needed and was particularly pleased with the return to form of captain Broad after injury.

"It was good, especially for the four bowlers, to be put under some pressure," said Lumb. "And if it comes down to it in the main games, we'll have had some experience a couple of times here.

"It's great to have Broady back. His body is moving well, and he's bowling nicely.

"He's obviously had a few little niggles, but he's back fit and raring to go. We're really chuffed with that."

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England suffer T20 warm-up defeat

England 170-5 (20 overs) lost to NZ XI 171-7 (20 overs) by three wickets

A late fightback by captain Stuart Broad proved in vain as England suffered a last-ball defeat by a New Zealand XI in their final warm-up game.

Jos Buttler hit a second successive half-century while Eoin Morgan also weighed in with 51 as the tourists reached 170-5 at the Cobham Oval.

The hosts were coasting to victory before three wickets fell for four runs, including Tom Latham for 64.

The final ball finish made it exciting for the big crowd, but it should not disguise a poor bowling performance from three of England's attack. 170 was a defendable total after Eoin Morgan and Jos Buttler repeated their powerful hitting of the previous day. James Tredwell and Steven Finn had rare off days. Jade Dernbach threatened to rescue the match with a skilful final over, but his bowling earlier was reminiscent of his efforts in India that cost him his ODI place.

But Broad's 3-24 proved in vain, their opponents winning off the last ball.

Having won their opening warm-up game by 46 runs 24 hours earlier, Broad and his players have plenty to ponder ahead of Saturday's opening Twenty20 international with New Zealand in Auckland.

England opener Michael Lumb said Wednesday's defeat was an indication of how tough the three-match series would be.

"I think it will be tight," said the Nottinghamshire batsman. "A lot of people have written them off, but you can't take them lightly.

"It would be foolish to do that - they've just beaten South Africa in a one-day series over there. They're a proud nation, and they'll come really hard at us."

Buttler followed up his unbeaten 57 in the opening game with 51 off 31 deliveries, which included five fours and two sixes.

He put on 87 with Morgan, who also struck two sixes.

But it was not enough as New Zealand's openers Anton Devcich and Hamish Rutherford passed 50 in just 35 balls.

Rutherford's dismissal brought Latham to the crease and he wasted no time reaching 50 from 29 balls.

Steven Finn and James Tredwell struggled to make an impact for England, both going for 44 runs from their four overs.

But Lumb said the match provided the workout they needed and was particularly pleased with the return to form of captain Broad after injury.

"It was good, especially for the four bowlers, to be put under some pressure," said Lumb. "And if it comes down to it in the main games, we'll have had some experience a couple of times here.

"It's great to have Broady back. His body is moving well, and he's bowling nicely.

"He's obviously had a few little niggles, but he's back fit and raring to go. We're really chuffed with that."

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England slip to Australia defeat

By Stephan Shemilt BBC Sport in Mumbai England fell to an agonising two-run defeat by Australia that severely damages their chances of defending the Women's World Cup.

Last-wicket pair Anya Shrubsole and Holly Colvin looked on course to snatch England the most unlikely of wins, only for Colvin to be caught behind off Erin Osborne within one blow of victory.

In pursuit of 148, England had earlier been reduced to 39-6, only for Lydia Greenway (49) and Laura Marsh to drag them back into the contest with a painstaking stand of 57.

When they fell, the game looked to be up, but after coming together with 34 needed, Shrubsole and Colvin counter-attacked to keep England alive.

In the most dramatic of finales, however, Australia were able to strike the final, telling blow to extend the run that has seen them go unbeaten against England in World Cup matches since 1993.

"Everything went in England's favour today, they won the toss and bowled well but they've given this match away with poor batting and loose shots up top. On a pitch like this, there's no excuse for shots like that. I think Australia captain Jodie Fields was really aggressive and smart with her field placings."

In doing so they stay top of the Super Six table on six points and are on the verge of the final.

With only the top two teams going through, England now need to win their remaining two games against South Africa and New Zealand and hope other results go their way.

For that to happen, Charlotte Edwards's side must first recover from losing a game that looked to be within their grasp as new-ball pair Shrubsole and Katherine Brunt again wreaked havoc in the damp morning conditions in Mumbai.

The Aussies, so dominant in winning all their first-round matches, were reduced to 32-5 by the skilful swing and accuracy of England's pace duo.

Swinging the ball into the right-hander, Shrubsole accepted Rachael Haynes' return catch before bowling Jess Cameron with an unplayable yorker.

Then, in between Brunt and Jenny Gunn removing Alex Blackwell and Fields respectively, Shrubsole got the key wicket of Meg Lanning, who chased a wide one to edge behind.

It could have been worse for Jodie Fields' side had Lisa Sthalekar not been dropped on 11 by Greenway off the bowling of Gunn.

Sthalekar went on to make 41, adding 82 for the sixth wicket with Sarah Coyte, who contributed 44. It was a crucial stand in the context of the match, but England will know it was their own batting that cost them.

They may rue the poor umpiring decisions received by Edwards and Marsh, lbw to Megan Schutt and Coyte respectively when both deliveries looked to be drifting down the leg side.

However, in between, the top order were masters of their own downfall with Sarah Taylor, Danielle Wyatt and Arran Brindle all falling to poor shots.

And, after Heather Knight played all around Julie Hunter to be trapped lbw and Gunn was beaten by Holly Ferling's extra pace to be bowled middle stump, it completed a collapse of four wickets for two runs in three overs.

England looked to be in a hopeless position, only for the experienced duo of Greenway and Marsh to drag them back into the match.

With patient, risk-free batting, they ran well and accepted any loose deliveries that came, inching their way to a half-century stand in 136 balls.

'Poor shot selection' cost England

However, just as England were getting a foothold, Marsh was harshly given out leg before for 22 and Greenway patted 17-year-old Ferling to cover.

England looked beaten, but Shrubsole and Colvin had other ideas. With Colvin taking Sarah Coyte for three boundaries in an over and number 11 Shrubsole hitting Sthalekar over the top for another four, England strode towards their target.

But with Colvin looking for the winning runs, she got a feather through to Fields to hand victory to the Australians.

Elsewhere in the Super Sixes, New Zealand thrashed Sri Lanka by eight wickets  to move to four points from three games.

The Sri Lankans were bowled out for 103, with Lea Tahuhu taking four wickets before the Kiwis chased down the runs in 23 overs.

The West Indies also have four points following a two-wicket victory over South Africa.  

Chasing 231 to win, the Caribbean side survived a middle order collapse to scramble home in the 46th over.

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