Heather Knight’s side got the big moments right after three losses to turn things round and face Australia in Sunday’s final
Mithali Raj and Smriti Mandhana, both world top-10 ODI batters, are at the crease. Mithali, the India captain, drives an in-swinger from Anya Shrubsole low to point, and the ball dips in front of Sophia Dunkley as she throws herself forward for the catch. The review captures Dunkley’s fingers beneath the ball: “I’m satisfied,” pronounces the third umpire. A wave of joy breaks over the gathered England fielders. They’re satisfied, too.
Was this the moment England’s women turned their hitherto disastrous World Cup campaign around? Or was it in Shrubsole’s next over, when Kate Cross ran from cover to mid-off and hit the stumps, as Deepti Sharma tried to get off the mark? Was it, perhaps, when Charlie Dean took a wicket with the first ball of only her second one-day game, and another three deliveries later, to leave India 61 for five?
