Kentish Express Ashford & District
BEAUMONT STARS AS ENGLAND CLAIM DRAMATIC WORLD CUP SUCCESS
Kent’s Tammy Beaumont and Laura Marsh helped England win the Women’s Cricket World Cup at Lord’s on Sunday. The pair were part of a dramatic final which saw England score 228-7 (Natalie Sciver 51) in their 50 overs in front of a sell-out crowd. India looked on course to chase that down but collapsed from 191-3 to 219 all out (Anya Shrubsole 6-46) as England won their first major global trophy since 2009. Kent skipper Beaumont, 26, who attended Sir Roger Manwood’s School in Sandwich, was named player of the tournament after scoring 410 runs – more than any other player. Her tally from nine innings gave her an average of 45.55 and included 23 in the final, opening the batting with Lauren Winfield. Pembury- born Marsh, 30, added a crucial 14 not out at the end of the innings to help England post the second-highest score in a World Cup final. She also bowled 10 overs for 40 runs. Of the final, Beaumont said: “Robbo (the coach Mark Robinson) had to remind me that I’ve been doing well. “So many of the girls stood up. It’s been a great team performance. “Myself and Lauren got off to a good start but we thought we threw it away. But our batting order has been superb. “Jenny Gunn and Katherine Brunt were excellent. Full credit to Raut and Kaur, they put on an exceptional partnership. In my head it was never in doubt, we knew one wicket could change things.” Marsh added: “I bowled OK but the way Anya bowled was fantastic. In a final, every run’s important. We always knew we were right in the game. Simply brilliant.” Beaumont, in her maiden World Cup, started slowly in the tournament scoring only 40 runs in the first three matches but turned things around against South Africa in Bristol when she scored a magnificent 148 from 145 balls with 22 fours and a six. Her other knocks included 49 against Australia in Bristol, 93 against New Zealand in Derby, 42 against the West Indies in Bristol and 15 in the semi-final against South Africa in Bristol. Off-spinner Marsh played in five matches, including both the semi-final and final. Her best performance with the ball came in the group match against Sri Lanka – her first in the competition – when she took 4-45 from 10 overs to help set up a seven-wicket win at Taunton. She also made an unbeaten 31 against the West Indies at Bristol.