Edwards leaves Irish with no answers

"No matter what field we set, she just picked out the spaces - she's a class little bat," said Ireland's Nikki Squire after watching an outstanding batting performance by Charlotte Edwards in the World Cup in Pune, India, yesterday. Edwards, who turns 18 today, finished unbeaten on 173, helping England to a 208 run victory in their fourth group match. The only consolation for the seven weary Irish bowlers who faced Edwards was that the Danish bowling attack suffered an even more harrowing afternoon in Mumbai yesterday. An innings of 229 not out by Australian Belinda Clarke, off 157 balls, relegated Edwards' score to only the second highest in World Cup history.

England, for whom Jan Brittin made a half century, amassed a total of 324, for the loss of three wickets, in their 50 overs. When, in reply, Ireland slumped to 2 for 2, with Sue Redfern bowling Squire and Irish captain Miriam Grealey for nought, the match was effectively over as a contest. Malahide's Caitriona Beggs top-scored for Ireland with 49 before she was bowled by left-arm seamer Melissa Reynard, who finished with figures of 4 for 6. Clare O'Leary (14) and wicket-keeper Sandra Dawson (12) were the only other batswomen to reach double figures as Ireland were bowled out for 116 in 41.1 overs.

"They put on a run rate that we were never going to match," admitted Squire. "Once they scored that number of runs our main object was to try and bat for the 50 overs and use it as practice for our next match against Pakistan. We kept them out there for 41 overs, so that wasn't too bad."

"They're a very good side and they played their strongest line-up today. Our bowling was indifferent - we're just a little light in that department and then a few of us, like myself, just didn't perform with the bat. Credit to Caitriona, she batted very well and stayed there while all the wickets were falling. She did very well."

The squad set off on the long trip north to Delhi today where they will play Pakistan in their final group match tomorrow. "We're hoping to win and get six points, but we've heard that it's been raining in Delhi," said Squire. "The last thing we want is for that match to be called off and to end up with just three points, but even that should be enough to get us into the quarter-finals."

Denmark's 363-run defeat by Australia (who scored a world record 412 for 3) leaves the Danes in fifth place in the group on six points. Only a shock victory over South Africa tomorrow, and a defeat by Pakistan for Ireland, would see Denmark take the last quarter-final place.