That’s the way to do it!
England Women show how it’s done as World Cup final awaits
All 13 responsible for the drama witnessed that very moment on the Bristol County Ground had tears in their eyes. Only two were happy: England’s Jenny Gunn and Anya Shrubsole, who, in their own ways, have been through a lot.
Shrubsole came into the World Cup not 100 per cent fit. On the eve of England’s group match against Sri Lanka at Taunton – her home ground – she pulled up lame with an ankle knock. Nevertheless, she played.
In the first innings of the semi-final, in which South Africa posted 218 from their 50 overs, Shrubsole put on her best display of the tournament, bowling with immense control to return figures of 1-33.
It was the first time she had bowled her full allocation of 10-overs, too.
Gunn, who debuted in 2004, has fulfilled every role asked of her and done it with the quiet, methodical, understated manner of an accountant with agoraphobia.
Her longevity has been tested but she remains an integral part of the bowling line-up.Yet here she was with the bat, winning a game for her country.
When she came to the crease, Katherine Brunt had been dismissed, with 46 needed from the final 46 balls. It should never have been so tight.
England were coasting: a Sarah Taylor half-century – her third score above fifty this World Cup – was setting them on their way.
A procession to Lord’s, this was. The scenic route down through Maida Vale – all along the canal, sun out, flip-flops on. Then the stumble: in the space of 12-balls, 139-2 became 145-5.
Back to Gunn: she walked out with one cameo already in the bag – a 39 against Australia at that same venue – and batted like a woman possessed. Drives, a flick through mid-wicket, a hockey slap-shot around the corner for a couple – all shots that injected a calm at odds to what was at stake: Lord’s, for a sold-out final.
Gunn’s calm drew a bit more from Fran Wilson, a player on the other end of the spectrum who, simply given the way she copes with pressure, will go some way to match Gunn’s time in the game.
Her 81 in the opening match against India was in vain. Her 30 here – golden.
She forced South Africa’s captain Dane van Niekerk into putting pace back on the ball because of the ease at which Wilson was reverse sweeping the spinners.
Opening quick bowler Marianne Kapp tried to go for her body, so Wilson got out the ramp and cleared the keeper, Trisha Chetty for four. She’s going to be a hell of a player.
Still, going into the last over, the game was not won. Wilson ramped again, only this time Chetty plucked it out of the air.
Here we go. Three needed off the final six.
South Africa, even with the pushback, rallied. That’s the thing about them – there’s oodles of talent. Take for example, Laura Wolvaardt: 18-years-old, striking drives as if she was facing a bowling machine in her back yard, for 66.
Mignon du Preez, former captain and now a foot soldier in the ranks, crafted a neat 76 to take South Africa through to their 50 overs.
They fought in the field and even when the odds were stacked against them – there can only be one favourite when three are needed from the final six balls with three wickets in hand – they dug deeper.
Shabnim Ismail took the last over and forced Gunn to go straight. Straight back at her. Such was the force, she put it down. A single made it two from the last four.
Then, a wicket. Ismail castles Marsh. Two from the last three. Now it’s tense. Not if you’re Shrubsole, though, who walked down to her first ball, threaded through cover and now has a World Cup final to look forward to.
The 11 in South Africa green sunk to their knees. One rose quickest – Van Niekerk: captain, leader, holder of perspective. Prior to the match, she had two things on her checklist.
The second was to win the World Cup. The first was to get more women in South Africa playing cricket. Number two will have to wait but, given how her and her side carried themselves, number one is well on the way.
As for England, the road ahead is now clearer than it was two weeks ago. A World Cup final at the home of cricket, in front of a packed house. “It’s packed?” asked Taylor post match.Yes, it’s packed. “It’s packed!” History awaits.