HYDERABAD, December 10: Defending champions England put paid to the aspirations of debutants South Africa with a seven-run win in a Group A opening league match of the Women's World Cup at the Lal Bahadur Stadium here today.

In a match reduced to 20 overs-a-side because of soggy ground conditions, England mustered 94 for seven and then restricted South Africans to 87 for nine. Monday's rain had rendered the ground slushy and play was possible only after 1.30 p.m.

Put into bat, England were well served by all-rounder Charollete Edwards. After making an attractive 38 (58b, 58m, 4x4), the eve of the match Edwards triggered South Africa's collapse with her leg spin.

Edwards saved England's blushes with a responsible innings after her side lost three wickets -- Jannette Brittin (run out for 3) and Barbara Daniels (LBW) and Sue Metcalf -- which put the brakes on the scoring.

With the South Africans doing an outstanding job in the field, England had to dig out of the crisis. It was left to Edwards and Jane Cassar (24; 28b, 1x4) to stem the rot which they did quite competently with a 35-run stand for the fourth wicket before Edwards was stumped off left arm spinner Kim Price.

Cassar, however, stayed till the end. She and Katheryn Leng added 22 runs for the sixth wicket. Cassar was run out to the last ball of the innings.

South Africa's batswomen seemed to be in a hurry. They began with a flourish but at the same time they threw away the wickets with reckless shots. Skipper Karen Smithes, with her wobbling medium-pace, bagged the first three wickets to throttle SA's top order.

Then the leg spin of Leng (4-1-9-1) and Edwards blew away SA's hopes. The latter order batters looked clueless against the leg spinners and tried to get away with big hits but in vain.

When skipper Price walked in, SA were fighting a lost cause at 61 for eight. But Price, in the company of Atta Kotze, played sensible cricket to give a glimmer of hope for their team. But in the end, they fell short of eight runs. Price remained unbeaten with 15 and put on 25 runs (the highest for SA) with Kotze.

SCORECARD

ENGLAND: Charollete Edwards st Dalen Terblanche 38, Jane Brittin run out 3, Barbara Daniels lbw Kotze 2, Sue Metcalfe c Laing b Price 8, Jane Cassar run out 24, Karen Smithes c Linda Oliver 1, Katherene Leng st Terblanche b Eksteen 11, Melissa Raynard not out 1. Extras (lb5, w2): 7. Total (for 7 wkts in 20 overs): 94.

Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-22, 3-33, 4-68, 5-69, 6-91, 7-94.

Bowling: Atta Kotze 4-0-13-1, Kerri Laing 4-0-15-0, Eksteen 4-0-19-1, Price 4-1-17-2, Aluis Kuylaars 4-0-25-1.

SOUTH AFRICA: Linda Oliver c Connor b Smithes 5, Elizabeth Akehurst c Daniels b Smithes 13, Helen Davies st Cassar b Smithes 0, Kerri Laing c Daniels b Leng 14, Delen Terblanche b Connor 8, Cindy Eksteen c Connor b Edwards 8, Aluis Kuylaars b Edwards 1, Atta Kotzee st Cassar b Edwards 12, Kim Price not out 15, Alica Bezuidenhout not out 1. Extras (lb3, nb1, w5): 9, Total (for 9 wkts in 20 overs): 87.

Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-10, 3-30, 4-42, 5-46, 6-56, 7-58, 8-61, 9-86.

Bowling: Suzane Redfern 2-0-10-0, Smithes 4-0-26-3, Reynard 4-0-10-0, Katherne Leng 4-1-9-1, Clare Connor 3-0-14-1, Edwards 3-0-15-3.

Windies confident

NEW DELHI: The ladies are here for the World Cup alright, but they also are not the types who let go of any sight-seeing or shopping opportunities, reports Nikhila Natarajan.

When rain put paid to any chances of play against the Netherlands on the opening day of the Hero Honda Women's World Cup, the West Indian as well the Dutch teams made good the chance to get a `dekho' at the Taj and also pick up some curios for Indian friends back home.

But now its back to business as the West Indians get ready to take on Sri Lanka, who are still waiting to get a feel of international cricket. The Group B match will take place at the Karnail Singh Stadium. Meanwhile, the Dutch will be in Mohan Nagar playing New Zealand.

The rained-off match actually meant some advantage for the West Indians, as the Dutch are the favourites in their Group. And Lanka should, at least on paper, be easy opponents. Both Group B matches scheduled for the opening day were rained off, so four teams -- India, Sri Lanka, Netherlands and West Indies -- have three points each, while New Zealand play their first game on Thursday.

Though the West Indies coach, Theo Cuffy said, "We don't know a thing about the Lankans, so we'll play it by the ear." The Sri Lankans, for their part, will be looking to get skipper Ann Browne and Carol Ann James, the highest run-getters in the rival camp, out cheaply. But Cuffy was confident about a win on Thursday.

The Sri Lankan coach, Guy de Alwis, is looking forward to "some good cricket," and was non-committal about his playing eleven. Satisfied with his team's light practice session at Ghaziabad, he said, "Eight of them can bat, and eight can bowl, so I'm just hoping they give a good account of themselves and play positive cricket."

Probably the only edge that Sri Lanka have is that the West Indies team has not practised for two days now except for some catching practice and stretching out at the Delhi Tennis Association complex on Wednesday evening.

Kiwis start favourites

After rain spoilt Sri Lanka's opening match against hosts India on the inagural day, the stage is set for the Group B clash between the Emerald Islanders and the West Indies at Mohan Meakin Stadium, Mohan Nagar tomorrow.

Runners-up in the last World Cup in 1993 at England, New Zealand are favourites. Veteran Debby Hockley is the most experienced player in the side with 895 runs from 28 World Cup matches with the highest being an unbeaten 90. With experienced bowlers Sara McLauchlan and Emily Drumm in the side, captain Maarie Lewis feels that they should win the tournament this time after having tripped at the last hurdle in '93.

"Though India are favourites, we too are strong contenders," she said. "We have worked hard to improve our strike rate."

Coach Ann McKenna hopes that further rains will not dampen their spirits.

The Dutch team, on the other hand, is not making any promises. Former Sri Lankan cricketer Tony Opatha, who has been with the team for the last three years, says that his side may not have good bowlers but their batting and fielding are strong points. "Most of the players have the advantage of training with the men's team so they know the game well," Opatha said adding, "It will be a tough fight."

The side has all-rounders including captain Pauline te Beest, who is also their wicket keeper, and vice captain Nicola Payne. Both are professionals and play for clubs in New Zealand. Nicole won the best player's award from her club last year.

Match fails to take off

CHENNAI: The Hero Honda women's World Cup championship Group A league tie between Australia and Ireland on Wednesday met the same fate of the opening day's matches at Delhi and Agra on Tuesday, leaving players and organisers disappointed.

There was some hope of play, when the sun shone yesterday morning. But the slim hopes were drowned by the evening rain which damaged the ground.

On Wednesday, there was some hectic activity by chief groundsman K Parthasarathy and other workers to try and make the field fit for play. The umpires T.R.Kasiappan and S.V.Ramani had their first inspection at 9 a.m. They were of the view that the condition of the wicket and the surrounding areas had not improved and after three more inspections, they finally decided to abandon the match at 1.30 p.m.

Each team got three points from this game.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.