The Southern Stars are well-placed to qualify for the final of the ICC Women's World Cup after defeating England by two runs in their opening Super Sixes match in Mumbai on Friday.
After being bowled out for 147 in the 45th over, the Stars produced a tremendous performance with the ball and in the field to eventually dismiss England for 145 in a thrilling finish.
The victory means the Stars remain unbeaten at the tournament and sit alone at the top of the Super Sixes' standings.
After being sent in to bat on a pitch that gave the bowlers plenty of assistance, the Stars made a horror start to their innings.
Rachael Haynes (two), Jess Cameron (zero), Alex Blackwell (four), Meg Lanning (17) and Jodie Fields (three) were all dismissed in the opening 13 overs, before Lisa Sthalekar (41) and Sarah Coyte (44) combined to take the score from 5-32 to 5-114.
Some sensible batting from Julie Hunter (16 not out) allowed the Stars to post a competitive target and the situation looked even better when they ran through the English top order.
Megan Schutt (2-37), Holly Ferling (3-35) and Hunter (2-15) all picked up wickets as England were reduced to 6-39 in the 11th over, only for Lydia Greenway and Laura Marsh to get the chase back on track with a good partnership.
The duo put on 58 for the seventh wicket, but when Marsh was dismissed by Coyte (1-20) for 22 the pendulum swung back the Stars' way.
England lost Greenway for a well-compiled 49 and Katherine Brunt for two in quick succession to fall to 9-114 and the Stars could sense victory.
But they didn't count on a valuable 10th-wicket partnership by Holly Colvin and Anya Shrubsole.
The pair took England within three runs of victory, before Erin Osborne had Colvin caught behind for 16 to clinch a thrilling victory.
The Stars' next match is against Sri Lanka on Sunday, while England face up against South Africa on the same day.
First Posted 08 February, 2013 9:49PM AEST
