The twists and turns of a gripping finale
The final at Lord's was a fitting end to a memorable World Cup. Here is a look at five moments where the game changed direction
ESPNcricinfo staff
23-Jul-2017
Jhulan Goswami celebrates after pinning Natalie Sciver plumb in front • Getty Images
India and England played out a thrilling final in front of a packed Lord's crowd. For large parts of the game, both sides wrested control from the other, before Anya Shrubsole's 6 for 46 decisively swung the game in England's favour, delivering them their fourth World Cup title. Here are five key moments when the game turned.
Yadav's twin strikes scupper England's progress
Mithali Raj's decision to turn to Poonam Yadav after 14 overs bore instant results, through a combination of good fortune and some good old legspinner's drift. A full toss off her third ball had Tammy Beaumont miscuing into the leg side, after which she pinged Heather Knight's pads with one that went straight on. A successful DRS review later, India had two of England's best batsmen in the hut, just like that.
Goswami's middle-overs magic
England were cruising at 144 for 3 in the 33rd over when Jhulan Goswami returned for her second - and final - spell. Her opening burst of 6-2-16-0 had stemmed the run flow early on, but was in no way portentous of what she would dish out in her final four overs. A faint tickle down the leg side got rid of Sarah Taylor first up, before a cracking yorker-length delivery undid Fran Wilson first ball. Four overs and 18 runs later, another ripper trapped Nat Sciver in front. England's batting core had been dismantled single-handedly, leaving them at a precarious 164 for 6 after 38 overs.
Raj's bizarre run out
For a chase that needed a steady hand more than fireworks with the bat, Raj's wicket was the one England would have wanted the most. They got it far more easily than they would have imagined, as she ran herself out in a bizarre fashion. Punam Raut's nudge to short midwicket was met with a clear affirmative from her captain at the other end, before she gave up halfway through the run, leaving her well short of the crease - there was not even a desperate dive for the line. It was as if she did not expect the throw to come to her end, and it left India without an anchor for their chase.
England's senior pros miss simple chances
Sarah Taylor's probably the best keeper going around in women's cricket, as she showed towards the end of India's innings with quick glovework to get rid of Shikha Pandey. Earlier on, though, she missed a stumping that would have been a regulation chance by her standards. With India needing 84 off 92 balls, Raut was beaten by a Laura Marsh turner. But Taylor failed to pick the path of the delivery too, and the missed stumping seemed like it would prove costly for England.
Two overs later, Heather Knight had a "dropped the cup" moment at extra cover, grassing a crunchy Veda Krishnamurthy cover drive which went straight into her hands and out. In a matter of balls, England seemed to be losing the plot, as India looked set to cruise home on their lucky day.
Krishnamurthy's swipe ends India's hopes
Despite those missed chances, India were wobbling and, with 29 needed off 33 balls, Krishnamurthy's ball-striking abilities were critical to their chances. She had flirted with danger throughout her short stay, and each one of her risks seemed to be paying off till that point. She eventually perished by the sword, as her cross-batted slog settled into Sciver's palms this time. It was the third of Anya Shrubsole's six wickets, as lady luck finally deserted Krishnamurthy and India.