England women complete 2-0 series win

Clare Connor struck a career-best 85 not out to lead England women to a convincing 2-0 series win against South Africa and firmly cement their place as a strong contender for World Cup glory. The tournament starts next week and England showed once more that they are more than up to the challenge by rattling up 300 for the loss of just four wickets, then pegging back South Africa to 120 for 7 as they chased a revised Duckworth/Lewis target of 170 from 22 overs.

After being invited to bat, England wasted no time in rattling up their challenging total -Laura Newton coasting to 79 - as they seek to seal the two-match series with a second victory. Claire Taylor continued in her rich vein of form, with a sparkling 47 to add to her 94 in the first match, before Connor and Rosalie Birch (23 not out) boosted the visitors with an unbeaten stand of 101. Connor's knock, in her 100th ODI match, included eight fours.

England's innings had got off to a flyer as Charlotte Edwards (11) joined Newton in an opening stand of 57 before being trapped lbw by Cri-Zelda Brits. But Edwards has now made just 11 in two knocks this series, and will be grateful of the other warm-up matches as she attempts to rediscover her form ahead of the World Cup. Then the in-form Taylor then joined Newton as the two set about further undermining the South African attack, with a stand of 98. Shandre Fritz blasted apart the partnership with a firecracker which Newton could only fend to Claire Terblanche. Brits then removed Taylor, but her two wickets came at a cost - her ten overs of medium fast pace went for 70.

Rain interrupted a South African innings which was eventually reduced to 22 overs. The home side were soon in trouble on a moist wicket as Lucy Pearson mopped up Tamara Reeves lbw for 0. And 4 for 1 became 33 for 2 as Connor ran Brits out for 11. Johmari Logtenberg and Alicia Smith set about reversing the deficit in fine style, larruping 67 in ten overs, before Morgan took the first of three wickets with her gentle outswingers to break the stand. Clare Taylor then grabbed 2 for 8 as England turned the screw and a flapping South Africa were left with too much to do.