Knight: We did it the hard way

ENGLAND’S World Cup-winning captain Heather Knight praised her side’s fighting spirit after they pipped India by nine runs in a gripping final. Seamer Anya Shrubsole engineered a late Indian collapse to finish with six for 46 — the best figures in a women’s World Cup final — leaving Knight to say: ‘It did feel like it was slipping away a bit, but we fought it out. ‘You’re fighting for the trophy, your team-mates and for your country. It’s been the theme of the tournament — fighting hard and holding our nerve. To win the World Cup final in front of a full house is something beyond my wildest dreams. We’ve done it the hard way and that’s made it all the better.’ Shrubsole, who was named player of the match for her heroics, said: ‘I’m lost for words. It was an unbelievable game, and one of the great things about this team is we never give up.’ For coach Mark Robinson, who little more than a year ago had cut a frustrated figure in Delhi after England had thrown away a World Twenty20 semi-final against Australia, victory felt doubly sweet. Knight said: ‘We’ve had a lot of hurt in World Cups, but Mark’s been brilliant. He’s really challenged us, and he’s probably annoyed us at times with that tough love. But he’s made us believe.’