Sport

22 Jun 09

Claire Taylor hit the winning runs at Lords yesterday to help England to victory

England women’s cricket team won the World Twenty20 tournament yesterday with Oxford maths graduate and triple hockey blue Claire Taylor playing a vital part in the victory.

Claire, who has been called the ‘world’s best women’s cricket player’ hit the winning runs for England with 39 not out, and was named player of the tournament in a game that saw the biggest crowd ever for a women’s cricket match. She was also a key part of the team that won the world cup in March this year.

She said: ‘It's brilliant - the bowlers did well, we fielded like demons and had them on the rocks so it's great to get over the line. We've won two finals this year, the atmosphere here was incredible so to come here and put on a show was brilliant.’

Claire, a management consultant who studied at Queen’s College ten years ago, has been playing cricket for 11 years and holds the record for the highest score in one-day matches when she hit 156 against India in 2006. 

Oxford’s Head of Sport, Jon Roycroft, said: ‘Claire played for Oxford’s Women’s Cricket Club as well as for the hockey club and scored 170 in a Varsity match. I knew if she concentrated on her cricket she’d be a big star – and that was before women’s cricket became more serious in this country. Her determination and focus were and still are exceptional.

‘Oxford played a key part in her development, especially through the dedication of Nigel Lawton, who was a volunteer coach here. Claire is a great promoter of women’s sport and cricket in particular and we’re all very proud of her achievements.’

Oxford University Women’s Cricket Club is a long established club and a number of its players have gone on to represent England. They will be playing their Varsity match at Lords – the scene of Claire Fletcher’s latest victory – on July 4, the same day the men’s match takes place.