That New Zealand finished the 2013 Women’s World Cup in fourth place – lower than they have ever done before* – and Sri Lanka finished in fifth, their best performance, neatly summed up how this tournament has seen a closing of the gap among the competing nations.
*discounting 2005, when no third/fourth place play-off was played, so New Zealand arguably finished equal thirdFollowing England’s four-wicket win over New Zealand, both Charlotte Edwards and Suzie Bates spoke about how the established order has changed and their teams will have to make sure they don’t slip up in the future if they are to maintain a position in the top four.
Two days ago, Sri Lanka lost seven wickets for seven runs and were thrashed by South Africa. In the game today between the two sides, with fifth place at stake, they produced a commanding performance, scoring 244 for seven and dismissing South Africa for 156. Just as they had done against India, they piled the runs on early, took quick wickets and closed out the game in a thoroughly efficient manner.
They have been the revelations of this tournament and we hope that between now and 2017 they are able to play more ODI cricket to continue their development. They played a frankly pathetic 23 matches between 2009 and this event, which makes their performances all the more remarkable.
England have an incredible record against New Zealand in recent years. They haven’t lost to the White Ferns since 2010 so their eventual success was no surprise today. New Zealand failed to post enough runs – which is why their challenge for a place in the final ended early – and couldn’t remove Charlotte Edwards when England batted.
Technically, they did remove the England captain when she seemed for all the world to have edged behind when on 99. She got a reprieve and went on to score her eighth ODI century, putting her alongside Karen Rolton and Claire Taylor at the top of the game. It came during a manic period of play where England lose three wickets for three runs. While Arran Brindle can be forgiven for trying to hurry things along, Heather Knight and Jenny Gunn rather threw their wickets away before Laura Marsh added some sense to proceedings.
England would probably have got home even if Edwards was given out, and to be honest, given how England have received a few absolute howlers in the tournament so far, can we really begrudge them getting away with one? Don’t forget that Edwards was on the receiving end of another howler four years ago when England beat New Zealand in the final so she has every right to take every opportunity that comes her way.
A few people speculated before the tournament that this could be her last World Cup. When it comes to the crunch, she still looks like England’s best player and she is still scoring runs (only Debbie Hockley and Rolton have also managed two tons in one World Cup) so she has plenty of motivation to go on, at least until next year’s ICC Women’s World Twenty20 in Bangladesh. I am nowhere near close enough to the team to judge what she might be feeling, but my hunch from afar is that she will carry on. She might well feel that her legacy isn’t complete yet, and will be desperate to go out on a high, lifting another trophy. That might well be the Ashes in August. Then she’ll have an interesting call to make.