Indian wome's cricket team lose their head under big-stage pressureto England at Lord's, but the World Cup final final capped a campaign of many positives
The dejected Indian team after losing the ICC Women's World Cup final to England at Lord's Cricket Ground In London yesterday. The hosts won by nine runs. PIC/BIPIN PATEL
An ICC World Cup be it for men or of women is an event.
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And if Lord's is the venue then it is not only history but also something beyond it to savour it for life. England women having beaten India in a sensational finish by only nine runs yesterday would no doubt cherish this for long time to come for the fact because from a situation of hopelessness they stood up to the challenge of defending 228 runs to emerge as the winner in the end when India poised at 196 for 5 appeared to be the likely winner needing 33 more runs.
One timely display with the bat or with the ball or one valuable partnership is known to turn a game on its head as it did here at Lord's when England struck back to snatch victory from the throats of defeat to win yet another World Cup.
Chasing 229 to win, India were well served by their opener Punam Raut who batted brilliantly for her 86 glorious runs punctuated with four fours and one six. Her 95 runs partnership with Harmanpreet Kaur who made 51 superbly played runs seemed to have done the job for India.
But once this stand was over the Indian batting went into tatters despite efforts by Veda Krishnamurthy who made 35. Silly run outs and injudicious displays presented England with the opportunity to go for the jugular as India succumbed under pressure and thus missed a golden opportunity to win the cup for the first time.
There is no doubt in the fact that India biwled superbly and fielded equally well to restrict England to 228 in 50 overs. Lauren Winfield and Tammy Beaumont though produced an opening stand of 47, their dismissals by left-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwadand Poonam Yadav who also picked Heather Knight the England captain in her first two overs put India on the right track to keep England under pressure.
Their fourth wicket 83-run stand between Natalie Sciver and Sarah Taylor did raise their aspirations but not for long as Indian bowlers especially Jhulan Goswami, who claimed three for 23.
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