Classy Charlotte Edwards turns on style in narrow victory

Edwards celebrated ninth one-day century during victory

Century duty: Charlotte Edwards celebrates reaching three figures (Getty Images)

Charlotte Edwards’ ninth one-day international hundred helped England to a 13-run victory in the second one-day international here and an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Edwards now has more centuries in the 50-over format than any other player in the history of the women’s game, and her unbeaten 108 off 145 balls was key to England’s win as it was more than half their total. Sarah Taylor was the second highest scorer with 23 after England had been put in to bat in overcast conditions.

Shivanand Rajeshwari, with career-best figures of four for 42, and Jhulan Goswami, with three for 30, were the pick of India attack, but neither could find a way to dismiss Edwards, although the England captain did have a life on 80 when she was dropped by Karu Jain off Shikha Pandey.

India fell just short in their run chase, slumping from 171 for five after 40 overs to being all out for 201 all out in the penultimate over. Jenny Gunn captured four for 23 and Anya Shrubsole and Heather Knight picked up two wickets apiece.

All but one of India’s top seven made starts of sorts, but nobody was able to go on and play an Edwards-style knock, with Harmanpreet Kaur top-scoring with 43 before she was the eighth wicket to fall.

Edwards said of her century: “I was delighted to get another international hundred as they don’t come around very often and it was a fitting place to get it as this was my second one here.

“I’ve got a huge amount of pride when I put on my England shirt and I’m the leader of this team. When you get in on wickets like this you want to stay in and taking that responsibility was important for me.

“You saw by my celebration how much it meant to me. I’d have been gutted if we hadn’t made it over the line today but we fought right to the end.”

She said of the 13-run victory: “There were a few wobbles out there but the strength of this team is that we never know when we’re beaten.

“They needed 40 runs off 10 overs with five wickets left, and to fight back from that position and still believe was great. I kept telling them to believe and that we’ve got this. With two bits of magic from Jenny Gunn it was easy in the end.”

The teams now travel to Lord’s for the third and final match of the series on Monday.

Scorecard, page 16