England women's Under-21 cricket team win European Cup

England's women's U-21 cricket team are celebrating in Dublin tonight having won the inaugural U-21 European Cup by comprehensively beating the hosts today. The team beat Ireland U21s by seven wickets, with Arran Thompson finishing on 36 not out.

Earlier this week, England beat Holland U21s by eight wickets, with Thompson, who had played for the England senior team in last month's One-Day International triangular tournament, again top-scoring with 35*.

England had dismissed Holland for just 53 runs in a reduced over match and took ten overs to reach the target. Today they dismissed Ireland for 89, and reached the target in 25 overs. Leanne Davis (Lancashire), who at 15 was the youngest player ever to represent the England women's team in a one-day game against South Africa in 2000, took 3-27 from her ten overs and was supported by Beth Morgan (Middlesex) who took 2-19 and Jackie Hawker (Somerset) who dismissed the Ireland tail, taking 2 wickets for 3 runs.

England's match against Scotland was abandoned yesterday due to rain.