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Smithies in the driving seat at last

England (221-7) beat India (220-5) by 3 wkts

Captain Karen Smithies carried her bat, and England, to a three-wicket victory over India, hitting a last-ball boundary in the final one day international at Trent Bridge.

Under pressure for having already lost the series 2-0, Smithies hit an unbeaten 110 from 146 deliveries, with 10 boundaries.

Having been set 221 in 50 overs, Smithies faced up to the final ball needing four for victory.

The left-hander, promoted to opener for this series, hit the ball high to midwicket, and it trickled into the boundary rope with two fielders in pursuit.

The winning hit set off scenes of high excitement among spectators and Smithies' England team-mates rushed onto the pitch to join in the celebrations.

Earlier, all had looked lost as England fell behind the asking rate until Suzanne Redfern joined Smithies at the fall of the fourth wicket and struck 27 off 23 balls.

Smithies finally reached her maiden international century off 142 balls, with nine fours, and Melissa Reynard provided support with 19 from 16 balls as England scored 15 off the final over.

India had got away to a flying start in their innings, with the ball regularly racing to the boundary off the bats of Anju Jain (45 off 61 balls) and Chandra Aheer (58 off 95). Hemlata Kala added 33 from 34 balls, with three fours and a huge six over midwicket - the first of the series.