Taylor sees England home

Sarah Taylor anchored the England reply with a superb unbeaten 86 © Getty Images

England women moved within sight of a series win over New Zealand after sealing a six-wicket victory in the third one-day international.

Opener Sarah Taylor hit an unbeaten 86 to lead the tourists to a target of 200 with 11 balls to spare at Lincoln University, giving them a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Claire Taylor, whose magnificent unbeaten century underpinned England’s nine-wicket triumph in the second ODI, extended her outstanding run of form with a fluent 70.

She shared a second-wicket stand of 145 with her namesake, who stood firm despite the loss of three wickets for 10 runs to see England home alongside Jenny Gunn.

Gunn had earlier taken 2-27 to help dismiss New Zealand for 199 with an over unused, but the bowling honours went to Katherine Brunt, whose haul of 2-18 off seven overs underlined her successful recovery from a back injury.

There were also two wickets for Charlotte Edwards for the second game in succession, and England’s dominance with the ball was reflected in the fact that Sarah Tsukigawa’s 37 was the highest score by a New Zealand batsman.

As they had in the opening two matches, England made early inroads into the New Zealand top order.

They reduced the White Ferns to 27 for three after winning the toss, Isa Guha bowling Ros Kember before Brunt performed likewise to Sara McGlashan and had Aimee Mason caught behind.

Claire Taylor added 145 for the second wicket with her namesake © Getty Images

Ingrid Cronin-Knight impressed on her debut with a patient 36, although she was put down by Laura Marsh on 24.

Marsh made amends by having Cronin-Knight taken by Clarie Taylor at short midwicket shortly after Amy Satterthwaite - Cronin-Knight's partner in a 65-run stand for the fourth wicket - was bowled by Stephanie Davies.

Tsukigawa, who hit 73 off 54 balls in Monday’s defeat, had her ominous innings cut short by a smart piece of work from Claire Taylor as she went in search of a single, and Nicola Browne perished moments later, caught and bowled by Gunn.

Gunn removed Beth McNeill with her next delivery - the fourth of six New Zealand batsmen to be bowled - and Edwards struck twice in the space of three balls in the penultimate over of the innings to account for Sophie Devine and Rachel Candy.

Though England lost Beth Morgan early in their reply - stumped by Katey Martin off McNeill - the Taylors’ alliance effectively settled the contest.

Eighteen-year-old Sarah, 14 years Claire’s junior, dropped anchor to play the supporting role, striking seven fours off the 137 balls she faced.

Claire managed eight fours and a huge six off Mason as she emphasised her status as England’s most prolific batsman on this tour, although her departure in the 38th over sparked a minor wobble that also saw them lose Edwards and Lydia Greenway.

Edwards found Mason at midwicket off Tsukigawa without scoring, and the same combination did for Greenway to leave England 167 for four and showing signs of nerves.

Yet Taylor continued unperturbed, ably accompanied by Gunn, who was unbeaten on 12 when victory was confirmed.