With their most complete performance of the World T20, England Women flexed their muscles to thrash Pakistan by 68 runs and reach a third consecutive semi-final. In the previous two editions they fell short to Australia in the final. Now, the two will meet at the penultimate hurdle. Charlotte Edwards, with an unbeaten 77 and her second player of the match award of the tournament, was clear that there is a score to be settled.
Despite winning their first three matches, England went into this final fixture needing a positive result to progress. That was partly down to turning relatively straightforward chases against India and West Indies into two- and one-wicket wins respectively. Those two indulged in a nail-biter of their own, which went in favour of West Indies. They will now play New Zealand on Thursday in Mumbai.
But Pakistan, too, were not out of the reckoning and could have dumped England out by chasing down their target of 149 in 18.1 overs. Neither milestone was reached.
It was fitting that Edwards fielded that question about revenge. Australia came to England last summer and left with the Ashes – a blow that, coupled with the scrutiny of greater media coverage and a drab first televised Test, required Edwards to take a break at the end of the season. She and her side were criticised for playing negative cricket and sticking with players – specifically, those in charge of the runs – who were failing to deliver: an unimaginative captain leading an uninspiring team.
But at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, after some fits and starts in the earlier group matches, they showed just how far they have come. Edwards, in particular, looked to be on a mission. The first ball of the match was hit for four to take her past 2,500 international T20 runs. No other player – man or woman – has achieved that feat.
The most noticeable change of tack has been England’s approach in the first six overs. Research from their analyst has told them that, around 87% of the time, the team that “wins” the powerplay wins the match. No one in the competition has more runs in this period. Sometimes, the data is worth looking at.
As a result, Kent’s Tammy Beaumont has been given a run as opener, with the England coach, Mark Robinson, keen to allow her the time and opportunity to express herself. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it has not taken much for her partnership to click with her county team-mate Edwards. Here they notched their second fifty partnership in as many games and, most noteworthy, posted England’s highest-ever powerplay total of 55 without loss. It is also the sixth highest Powerplay score in women’s T20 internationals.
“Tammy has taken her opportunity with both hands and that makes my job at the other end a little easier, playing myself in,” said Edwards. “She’s been brilliant and hopefully there’s plenty more to come for her.”
“Mark Robinson has told us to go out there and play to our own game, play to our strengths and I think we’ve done that. It’s not been reckless at all, I think it’s been really calculating cricket and that’s been pleasing for me.”
After crashing four boundaries off the left-arm spinner Anam Amin in the third over, Beaumount picked up Sana Mir over midwicket for her and England’s third six of the tournament. In the 2014 World T20, they hit none.
Previously Beaumont’s wicket had been the cue for a flurry of top-order wickets. But with Edwards holding firm at the other end, the implosion was controlled to only three for 21. In previous years she might have been bogged down, with opposing captains all too wise to the game of a 20-year veteran. But Mir had trouble keeping tabs on Edwards, now gunning for twos and even exposing her stumps to lap-sweep over square leg.
With the ball, it was Laura Marsh who took charge, returning career-best figures of three for 12 from her four overs. Having been called up as a replacement for the injured Danielle Hazell, Marsh had an impromptu training session with Paul Farbrace in Delhi, before joining the team at the airport, where they were stopped off on their way from Dharamsala to Chennai.
With Robinson keen for her to send down overs, she came into the XI for Becky Grundy while an ill Heather Knight was replaced by Georgia Elwiss. Five wickets were shared between them as they and the rest of the bowlers benefitted from an improved performance in the field.
If there was one blemish, it was the eight-ball duck for Sarah Taylor. Having come into the tournament on a hot streak, she has cooled off with returns of nine, 16, three and nought. Robinson has been clear that Taylor’s role in the side is to “go and win games”. The positive is that England haven’t needed her to. Either way, Edwards isn’t worried, especially ahead of the semi-final.
“She won’t go too long without scoring runs. She quite likes playing against Australia. Look, I never get too concerned because Taylor’s a big match player. We have a semi-final coming up and I have no doubt she’ll come to the party.”
The squad are set to fly out to Delhi on Monday afternoon to prepare for their semi-final. The pitch at the Feroz Shah Kotla will probably be the best batting track that both England and Australia have played on so far. Australia, as three-time consecutive champions, go into the match as the favourites.
“We’re looking forward to it,” says Edwards. “We know when you come to a world tournament you have to beat everyone and we’re looking forward to Wednesday. We’ve got a lot of belief in the group. It’s going to be one hell of a semi-final.”
