In 2017, India’s dream of winning the ODI Women’s World cup was brought down by the English women’s team. Both the teams faced off in an epic encounter that will be remembered for ages. The Lord’s was jam-packed for the biggest event of Women’s cricket.
The Indian women started their campaign with a win over England in their very first match. The Mithali Raj-led team India were in great form and reached the semifinals of the tournament against the mighty Australian women’s team. Harmanpreet Kaur’s heroics in that game ensured that India reach the Final of the big stage.
And then it was England against India, this time in the final at the Lord’s. On the big occasion, England women’s skipper, Heather Knight won the toss and elected to bat first. They got to a good start after openers Lauren Winfield and Tammy Beaumont did not lose their wicket in the first ten overs.
The Indian bowlers bounced back by dismissing skipper Knight in a small period of time. Suddenly, England were 63/3. After that, it was Sarah Taylor and Natalie Sciver who built a crucial partnership of 83 runs. Katherine Brunt and Jenny Gunn, who came in at seven and eight respectively, added 34 crucial runs to finish England’s innings on 228/7. Sciver was the top scorer for the English side with a knock of 51 runs.
All the Indian bowlers were quite disciplined but Jhulan Goswami, who was playing her last World cup match, was the one to stand out for. She scalped the best figures of 3/23 for the Indian side.
Chasing the total of 228 in the World Cup final, India did not start well as they lost their two star batters, Smriti Mandhana and skipper Mithali before the team could reach 50. Opener Punam Raut stuck to one hand and made sure the scoreboard was tickling.
Kaur scored a brilliant half-century before throwing her wicket with the team score at 138. When Punam Raut was dismissed on 86, India were in need of 38 runs in 43 deliveries with six wickets in hand. The side looked in a good position to win the game but the English bowlers had some other plans. None of the Indian batters were able to stay at the crease and collapsed from 191/3 to 219 all-out, handing a nine-run victory to England.
Anya Shrubsole was the one who ran riots through the Indian batting line-up. She claimed her first five-wicket haul in the World cup final, ended the match with brilliant figures of 6/46, and was also adjudged the player of the match for her fiery spell.
India’s dream to win the World Cup was shattered. The trophy was so close, yet so far for team India. Both the teams were under pressure and the team who handled the situation well won the World Cup.
