Will a top-four batter see England over the line in Sunday's Women's World Cup final? Francis Kelly asks...
Wednesday 19 July 2017 17:16, UK
It was telling that, when the time came and England scored the winning runs against South Africa in the tightest of encounters, they chose to go to their fallen foe rather than partake in extravagant celebrations.
No one would have begrudged them the satisfaction of releasing the joy bottled up by a tense finish. They had, after all, just secured passage to the World Cup final.
Yet England experienced that feeling of defeat all too often: the disabling, gut-wrenching misery that comes with losing a semi-final in an international tournament. They know how it can stunt a team. There was no need to revel when others lay about in despair.
Five times since the turn of the century that chaos engulfed England, so often they became friends with it through the growing familiarity. Now, as captain Heather Knight revealed in the run-up to this knockout match, they're learning to embrace pressure instead.
An uneasy sensation to endure, you never quite know what side of the line to be. Too far and you're left wrecked, it's demanding nature twisting every sinew in emotion-zapping fashion. Not enough and you can't perform to your maximum, preserving those 'skill set' percentage-points that are so often cited as the difference between winning and losing.
A balance must be found, one where you live in harmony with both parts simultaneously. England showed by the manner in which they completed this run chase, their second highest in World Cup history, that they are moving closer to establishing that equilibrium.
They had, of course, dealt with expectation before during the World Cup. The time they defeated old rival Australia called on bowlers with ice in their veins, so too the previous, record-breaking victory over South Africa. But neither had the burden that a win directly resulted in playing for silverware in front of a sell-out home crowd.
In years gone by, the removal of the top order when chasing would instigate a collapse and sure defeat. You need only rewind to the World T20 semi-final loss to Australia 16 months ago to witness how brittle England were.
Now they possess a resilience with their batting and, for all the downplaying of England's chances throughout this campaign by head coach Mark Robinson in a bid to manage hopes, have showed why they are well placed to win the World Cup for a fourth time on Sunday.
Their depth in batting - no one else has more centurions this World Cup - is almost unrivalled in women's cricket. Their opening bowling duo, though not the fastest in the world, are the most experienced in the game. A gaggle of spinners, interchangeable to the desires of the day, ensure the team can fight on all fronts. And in Knight they have a quick-learning captain who backs every player to perform.
However there is still some way to go before they truly master that pressure. The old wounds that appeared incurable are still being healed. This semi-final, for example, was never meant to reach the last over.
While South Africa are the most improved side in an age of rapid development in women's cricket, they remain the lowest-ranked team in the knockouts. Though not a formality, an England victory was expected to be straightforward.
Knight readily admitted after play that England are yet to put in a perfect performance, highlighting the lack of a top-order batter seeing the chase through to the end.
Only once in the tournament has a member of the top four still been at the crease come the final ball of an England innings. That was against Sri Lanka and, while better than previous showings, there is a gulf in skill and financial backing between the sides.
England will face no greater test of their progression than at Lord's on Sunday. If they can befriend the pressure there, then the World Cup is within touching distance.
Watch the final of the ICC Women's World Cup at 10am on Sunday on Sky Sports Cricket. Before that, see who England's opponents will be when Australia and India meet in the second semi-final, at 10am, Thursday, Sky Sports Cricket.
