50 overs: England women 228 for 7 (Sciver 51, Taylor 45, Goswami 3-23, Poonam 2-36) v India women
03:04
Can India topple England at Lord’s?
Over the course of her fourth Women’s World Cup, Jhulan Goswami has gradually built up rhythm and menace. After a quiet round-robin phase, which only brought her four wickets in seven games, she bowled an important spell in India’s semi-final win, while dismissing Meg Lanning, the world’s best batsman, with the ball of the tournament.
Now, in the biggest game of the tournament, the biggest game of her 164-ODI career, Goswami turned in the display of a lifetime, her 3 for 23 the joint third-best figures by anyone in a Women’s World Cup final. Her new-ball spell – 5-2-9-0 – kept England’s run rate in check even while their openers scored at seven an over at the other end. Her second – 5-1-14-3 – ripped the heart out of England’s innings.
When Goswami began her second spell, Sarah Taylor and Nat Sciver had put on 70 for the fourth wicket and England, 133 for 3 after 30 overs, may have set their sights on 270. When she ended her second spell, England were 168 for 6 after 40. Thanks to their batting depth, they continued to fight, and finished on 228 for 7
It could still prove a testing total on a pitch that has belied its grassy look and turned out slow and decidedly low. But it is probably far less than what England may have aimed for after they chose to bat first, even after assessing the conditions at Lord’s.
More to follow…
Karthik Krishnaswamy is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo