England have beaten the White Ferns by nine wickets to claim the fourth match and win the international one-day series at Barnsley Cricket Club.
The victory gave England an unassailable 3-1 lead with the fifth and final game to be played at Lords on Tuesday.
An outstanding bowling display kept the White Ferns to a modest 136 for nine after Aimee Watkins won the toss and elected to bat. England coasted to victory with Heather Knight the only wicket to fall.
Coming together at 41 for one, Sarah Taylor (49*) and Claire Taylor (51*) put on an unbeaten second wicket stand of 98 to guide England to the comfortable win.
Earlier, spearhead Katherine Brunt snared three for 31, removing the dangerous Lucy Doolan and Suzie Bates early to set the tone for the match. New ball bowling partner Jenny Gunn and spinner Holly Colvin chimed in with two wickets each while Isa Guha went for just 11 runs off her ten overs.
Again, Watkins steadied the inning after the loss of early wickets, making a hard fought 42 but she played a lone hand with the next best contribution coming from opener Natalie Dodd who reached 22.
Speaking after the match, coach Gary Stead said: “The team is disappointed. We didn't bat well today albeit on a very difficult wicket and lost wickets regularly so we were about 30 runs short of a competitive score.
“We bowled and fielded well but never had enough runs. We are looking forward to playing at Lord's where we should find a faster paced wicket.
“England have more game awareness than us - the gaps between the teams has closed in the series and we have improved since the Rose Bowl Series against Australia but we need to learn how to win the close moments in a match.
“England are able to sense when the moments are coming and win them. We have made some good progress but need to find greater consistency in all disciplines.”
Schedule:
29/06/2010 England vs White Ferns - First Twenty20
County Ground, Chelmsford
Result: England won by 37 runs
1/07/2010 England vs White Ferns - Second Twenty20
Rose Bowl, Hampshire
Result: White Ferns won by 4 runs
2/07/2010 England vs White Ferns - Third Twenty20
County Ground, Hove
Result: White Ferns won by 9 runs
4/07/2010 Ireland vs White Ferns - ODI
Kibworth Cricket Club
9:45pm (NZ time)
Result: White Ferns won by 159 runs
7/07/2010 England Academy vs White Ferns - 50 over match
Kibworth Cricket Club
Result: White Ferns won by 6 wickets
10/07/2010 England vs White Ferns - First ODI
The County Ground, Taunton
Result: England won by 1 wicket
12/07/2010 England vs White Ferns - Second ODI
The County Ground, Taunton
Result: White Ferns won by 4 wickets
15/07/2010 England vs White Ferns - Third ODI
County Ground, Derby
Result: England won by 6 wickets
17/07/2010 England vs White Ferns - Fourth ODI
Barnsley
Result: England won by 9 wickets
20/07/2010 England vs White Ferns - Fifth ODI
Lord's, London
9:45pm (NZ time)
