Anya Shrubsole was happy to continue the winning habit with England women, after a series victory over South Africa provided a massive boost ahead of the World Twenty20.
England were victors by four wickets in the third Twenty20 international against South Africa, which sealed the three-match series 2-1.
Sarah Taylor’s third consecutive half-century helped England chase down 132 with 27 balls remaining, after Shrubsole herself had snagged two wickets in two deliveries to restrict South Africa’s batting.
Taylor became only the second batter to reach the 2,000-run landmark in T20Is, and England can now look ahead to the World Twenty20 with confidence.
“With the Twenty20 World Cup round the corner, it was really important for us to come out here and win the series,” Shrubsole told ecb.co.uk.
“Winning is a habit and it’s something we want to get into. We know there’s areas we need to iron out. But that’s the same for every team.
“We can take a lot of confidence from things we’ve done here and hopefully show that in the Twenty20.”
Shrubsole’s bowling had seen Dane van Niekerk and Marizanne Kapp depart in successive deliveries of the second over, though she was again denied a memorable hat-trick by Lizelle Lee, whose 69 off 61 balls would prove South Africa’s rescue act.
However, it was Natasha Farrant, included in the World Twenty20 squad, who had kick-started South Africa’s wobble with a wicket in only the second delivery of the match, and Shrubsole was pleased with the left-armer’s display.
Shrubsole said: “Yeah she (looked good out there). Obviously left arm, swinging the new ball, she actually showed she can come back really well with the old ball as well.
“So everyone’s really pleased with how she did, and she should be really pleased with how she’s done.
“Tash bowled a brilliant first over, and good for her to get that wicket. And then obviously a couple (for me). It’s twice now Lizelle Lee’s stopped me getting a hat-trick.
“But it was an ideal start and it helped keep them at a below-par total.”
Taylor’s innings of 60 from 40 balls, meanwhile, had included 10 fours and she also partnered Heather Knight for a 62-run stand, which set up the victory stretch brilliantly.
Shrubsole insisted it was a blessing to be playing alongside rather than against the swashbuckling Taylor, saying: “100 per cent.
“For so many reasons. Firstly for her keeping, but also her batting. She’s showed in this series just how good she is.
“And especially coming off a lean spell in the ODIs, for her to turn it around in thse games has been huge. She’s going to be massive for us in the World T20.”
Source: ECB