England's women cruise to World Twenty20 final win over New Zealand

For the second time in the space of three months England's women have won a world championship. In March they beat New Zealand by four wickets to take the 50-over title; today at Lord's in the World Twenty20 final the margin was greater still, England winning by six wickets and with three overs spare.
It was an utterly authoritative performance, especially with the ball. England were outstanding, New Zealand underwhelming, their technique against the swinging ball badly exposed by the skilful English attack.
Having won the toss and chosen to field, England's opening bowlers Laura Marsh and Katherine Brunt destroyed the New Zealand order, removing their two best batters within the first three overs. Brunt, sporting a shiny black eye after an accident during fielding practice, was superb. Her spell of 4–2–6–3 essentially decided the match inside the first powerplay. Marsh dismissed Suzie Bates in the fifth over of the day, having her superbly stumped by Sarah Taylor.
It was Brunt's spell, though, which was decisive. Bowling with immaculate control and extracting impressive swing under the overcast skies, she removed the tournament's top run-scorer, Aimee Watkins, with the first ball of her second over. She then produced a maiden, pinning Amy Satterthwaite back in the crease with a string of perfect yorkers. The pressure told in her final over, a double-wicket maiden. Lisa Doolan, a touch too clever for her own good, contrived to scoop the ball straight into Taylor's gloves, and Rachel Priest top-edged a pull shot, Brunt following through to take the catch herself.
New Zealand were 23 for four after only eight overs. Already scuppered, they spent the rest of the innings slowly sinking. Amy Satterthwaite endured long enough to scrape together 19 from 42 balls, but with the team combining to score only four boundaries between them, they never looked like setting a total which would challenge England. Attempts at late-order hitting only prompted a rash of late wickets.
The chase was slow and steady, befitting what was at stake and while there was the odd hiccup the two Taylors, Sarah and Claire, batted with calm conviction. Sarah Taylor's 23 included two fine fours, but it was Claire Taylor who saw the team through to the target, taking her time over a stately 39. Fittingly for the captain she hit the winning runs, crashing four through mid-off.
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