England eves beat India to pocket series

TAUNTON: Timid batting and fickle weather put paid to India's hope of staying afloat in the five-match series as dominant England eves thumped them by eight wickets via Duckworth-Lewis method to take an unassailable 3-0 lead.
Put into bat, the stop-start match had India at 126 for two in 35.2 overs when heavens opened up again to drop early curtains on their innings.
Chasing a revised target of 99 from 21 overs, England lost just two wickets before romping home to ensure the series win.
Losing opener Karuna Jain (4) early in the innings meant the visitors did not get the start they expected and the first rain-interruption came when the match was into its sixth over.
When play resumed, Jaya Sharma (42) and Mithali (55 not out) put their foot down and ensured there was no further immediate setbacks but run rate took a nosedive as both of them retreated into a cocoon of sort for major part of their knocks.
They mixed overriding caution with rare aggression and added 98 runs for the second wicket before Nicki Shaw had Jaya stumped after a cautious 94-ball 42 that included four fours.
Mithali and Amita Sharma (11 not out) were going steady before rain truncated the innings. Mithali's unbeaten 55 came off 79 balls and included five boundaries.
With the target revised to 99 from 21 overs, England eves had a relatively easy job at hand and opener Sarah Taylor struck a brisk 24 off 17 balls to set them on course for a facile win.
Though India managed to return Sarah and her captain Charlotte Edwards (25), veteran Claire Taylor, playing her 100th match, made an unbeaten 29 to see the side through with 4.2 overs to spare.
Arundel Castle Cricket Club Ground will be the venue of the fourth ODI on Sunday, while the last match - a day-night affair - is scheduled for Tuesday at Hove.
Brief score:
India: 126 for 2 in 35.2 overs (Mithali Raj 55 not out, Amita Sharma 42)
England: 99 for 2 in 16.4 overs (Claire Taylor 29 not out, Sarah Taylor 24).