England women scoop top BBC prize

ENGLAND’S victorious Women’s World Cup squad had another trophy to lift last weekend having won the Team of the Year award at the BBC Sports Personality show.

England beat India by nine runs in a thrilling World Cup final at a sold-out Lord’s with Anya Shrubsole the star of the show, finishing with 6-46 including picking up five wickets in 19 balls.

Shrubsole was nominated for the Sports Personality of the Year award but lost out to long-distance runner Mo Farah.

England captain Heather Knight said: “I can’t stop smiling. I am so proud of this group of girls.We made it hard for ourselves but I couldn’t care less.

“We held our nerve. Anya Shrubsole – what a hero.”

England picked up the award having also drawn the multi-format women’s Ashes this winter and they are the first cricket team to win the award since England’s men picked up the gong in 2011 after winning the Ashes in Australia.

The women had looked like being valiant runners-up in this year’s home World Cup as India looked set for victory at 191-3 as they chased a target of 229.

But Shrubsole’s heroics sparked a collapse of seven wickets for 28 runs. She finished with 6-46 – the best figures in a World Cup final – as India were bowled out for 219 with eight balls unused.

All-rounder Danielle Hazell added: “Thank you for the award, it’s been a fantastic year for women’s cricket and women’s sport in general.

“Hopefully we have gone places to inspire women’s cricket and beyond.” While Anya Shrubsole was unfortunate to not even make the top three of the main award, picking up the team prize was more than deserved.Winning a World Cup on home soil was a superb achievement and one England Women will surely look to build on over the next couple of years.