Still searching for first win

3 March 2007

Jenny Gunn © Getty Images

England's Jenny Gunn is writing a diary for ecb.co.uk during the quadrangular World Series in India this winter. Follow her exclusively here on ecb.co.uk

We had a whole day off from cricket on February 26. We had a really chilled out morning before having an outing to the cinema to see Music and Lyrics, which was really funny and a feel-good film. Most of the girls got stuck in to popcorn and snacks.

On the 27th we were back into training and it was one of the hottest days since we have been here - you were sweating just standing there.

We had a good net session and then some good fielding drills where the "young ones" competed against the "old ones". (Ebony is classed as old at the age of 23. Harsh.)

I’d just like to say that the youngsters won. It was a good way to get us all going as there was a good buzz flying around.

February 28 was the first of our two back-to-back games. We played India and lost the toss and were put into bat.

They bowled well early on with the ball, moving it around a bit which resulted in us losing a few wickets.

Lyd steadied the ship and batted really well, scoring her first ODI fifty, with some great support from Lynsey and Boggy (Laura Marsh), and we managed 143.

India scored quite freely at the start of their innings, but some good bowling by Lor (Newton) in the middle (1-21), and some sharp fielding made India work hard and we managed to take them to the 39th over to score the runs.

In our second game we played the Aussies. We were put into bat after losing the toss and got off to a great start thanks to Squirt (Sarah Taylor) and Lor, who took it to the Aussie bowlers.

Sarah Taylor scored her maiden ODI hundred against Australia © Bipin Patel

A bowling change worked for them as Pike bowled Lor, but that brought Tails (Claire Taylor) to the crease, and they accelerated.

Tails raced to 50, but was out shortly after. Squirt continued to dominate their bowling attack and brought up her first ODI 100.

Players at the end chipped in with 15 and 20. Beth managed to hit a slog sweep out of the ground and we ended up on 269.

We didn't get off to the best of starts as the Aussie batters came at us hard - they were going at six an over in the first 10 or so overs.

A good decision to change the bowling saw Beth come on and get a breakthrough, followed in the very next over with Isa getting a wicket as well.

Rolton and Sthalker put on a good partnership before Holly took a great caught and bowled to dismiss Rolton. We gave it our all but lost in the 47th over.

For a change, we had a team meal at The Crown, which is the restaurant at the top of our hotel.

Well the views from the top were amazing and it was a really nice change to eat up there.

After we had eaten dinner, a man came in and sang songs accompanied by his keyboard. He played any song and knew all the words so we asked for 'Summer of 69' and Elton John.

I think the song of the night had to be the Alice song, which Indians seem to love.

It was funny when he came to the chorus and he sung 'Alice, Alice who the heck is Alice'! It was a good night and a good way to get away from cricket.