What took place a while earlier in the beating heart of cricket’s familiar residence in the international sport called the Lord’s cricket ground wasn’t just a World Cup final that was a great contest. It was a beautiful victory for the sport- over and above-anything else and a moment that quite simply, elevated the standing and stature of international cricket. And that’s not just because the Australian women’s team won in the end, making actually a lightwork of what could on any pitch, in any stage of the women’s game, have been a challenging total to chase- 150!
It’s largely down to the fact that the chasing side in the aftermath of the contest, were not only singularly engaged in revelry or their moment of glory alone; they were interested in upholding the spirit of the game, sparing precious moments despite of their winning triumph to engage with the team that had been vanquished. The very team they had beaten!
The England women side led by Nat Sciver-Brunt were actually consoled by their opponents and one wonders, what could have been any more beautiful than that?
While on the one hand, Sophie Ecclestone, who didn’t end with too much of a wicket taking impact, was consoled by none other than Georgia Voll, there was Sophia Dunkely, who didn’t play the final, being comforted by Ash Gardner.
It’s interesting to note that Ash Gardner, the talented right handed batter and spinner was at the crease alongside Ellyse Perry when the Australians found the winning runs.
And it is great moments like these where a winning team ends up overpowering the opponent not just in the margin of win but by winning hearts in that they take time out to spend with the runner’s up that truly highlights the glory of the sport. That you reserve an emotion or two to understand the plight of your opponent, the one you’ve only just beaten. It stands up to being magnanimous.
While Sophie Ecclestone did try as best as she could possibly have in taking a wicket and that too, of the best scoring batter- Beth Mooney- her spell wasn’t nearly dangerous enough to outsmart the Australians. And ditto for some of the other English bowlers, whether one speaks of Smith, Bell or Dean. While Charlie Dean did take the wicket of the dangerous Phoebe Litchfield and Bell removed Voll from the crease, their efforts in the final just weren’t enough to take England home. Which would have been an ideal scenario given they hosted the World Cup.
But fair play to Sophie Molineux and her team for playing commandingly well and in the end, giving a hearty shoutout to England for playing a brand of cricket that, as Molineux stated, inspired a lot many youngsters to take to the game!
