By Clare Taylor England women's cricket team

The second phase of the Tri-Series in the north east began for us with another batting collapse against New Zealand.

So an extra day of training was hurriedly organised at Durham University.

The weather held out to ensure some much needed practice out in the middle where our bowlers were despatched to all areas of the ground.

It is really frustrating to see all the batters show so much confidence against us, then go to pieces once they are facing another country.

The batting let England down in the final

In an attempt to maintain my fitness levels, I opted for the run back to the hotel with my room-mate Laura Newton and our new physio Kim Bradley.

This was my first big mistake as Kim is a GB International at orienteering and thinks nothing of a two-hour run through and over all types of terrain.

As we disappeared into the woods, I was already wishing I had taken the luxury coach option.

By the time we reappeared down by the Racecourse ground, I was lagging quite a way behind.

A jacuzzi and sauna tended to my aching limbs and taught me a sound lesson of not going running with those two again.

Weather woe

Unfortunately, our game at the Riverside against the Indians last Friday was a total wash-out - flippers, rather than spikes, would have been required in the outfield.

The day was therefore spent mooching around the changing room, playing cards, listening to music and having a sit-ups competition.

Melissa Reynard was the unfortunate body chosen to run with "Forest Gump" Bradley and an hour later she was still alive to tell the tale of a journey through brambles and cornfields

The game was finally called off at 3.00pm and we headed off to the gym for a fitness session followed by a trip into Durham with Laura Newton and her three-year-old old son George.

Laura Spragg had a great game in the final

The forecast for Saturday's final wasn't good, but we woke to bright sunshine, the skipper won the toss and we elected to field against the Kiwis.

We got off to a flying start and had them nought for two.

Kate Pulford turned things around a little with a fine fifty but they ended on what should have been an easily reachable score of 161.

It was the same old story with our batting, however, as our reply stuttered and spluttered to 98 all out.

I really am at a loss to explain the differences between our batting in practice which is awesome and our batting in games which is very timid and circumspect, and I am sure it leaves coach John Harmer scratching his head in disbelief too.

So, the Kiwis won the Tri-series and we as a team are still waiting for that big innings from someone to kick start the belief in ourselves as batters.

We still have two Test matches against the Indians in August to play and hopefully we can finally score some runs.