In today's 5 wicket win over New Zealand, Charlotte Edwards played her 200th match as England captain. The honour, which saw her become the first player, man or woman, to captain England in 200 internationals, is just the latest in a hugely successful career. ECB managing director Paul Downton, who was in Lincoln for the match, made a presentation to the 35-year-old prior to the win.
England won the toss and Edwards elected to field at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval. Kiwi captain Suzi Bates was out for just 7 in the third over, caught on the leg side boundary by Lydia Greenway off the bowling of vice captain Heather Knight. And from then on England were in control. In fact only three players made it into double figures, Rachel Priest and Kate Broadmore (both 14) and Sophie Devine (37). It was that 37 off 31 balls from Devine, which enabled the hosts to set the score they did as wickets tumbled around her. New Zealand ended on 97-9 off their twenty overs.
In reply, Edwards could only score 5 on her historic day and was bowled after trying to cut Lea Tahuhu. Fellow opener Knight and next in, Sarah Taylor steadied match and ensured that the loss of their captain didn't affect England. But they got out within moments of each other and both at the hands of Tahuhu. Knight was first, caught by Peterson for 26, and Taylor followed after being caught by Bates for 20. Nat Sciver and Greenway took England almost to victory before the former was run out for 16 and the latter got out for 25. But Katherine Brunt hit a six as England finished on 102-5 from 18.4 overs.
Edwards made her England debut in 1996 as a 16-year-old and became captain after the retirement of Clare Connor, now Head of Women's Cricket. Since taking the captaincy, she has lead the team to three Ashes series victories (including the most recent back-to-back wins) and the World Cup and World T20 triumphs of 2009. She was made CBE in the 2014 Birthday Honours, after being upgraded from MBE, and in the same year became only the second woman to be named as one of the Wisden Cricketer's of the Year.
Edwards said after the match, "I'm really proud of the way of the way we played and to win in a convincing manner was really pleasing". Going on to say, "There was a lot of hype, but in our dressing room it was all about the series win."