England in semi-finals after India unravel in tense finish
Mandhana 88, Harmanpreet 70 in vain as India suffer their third successive defeat
Mandhana 88, Harmanpreet 70 in vain as India suffer their third successive defeat
Scorer: K Vairavan | Commentator: Andrew Miller
10.34pm So, that is a wrap from a thriller in Indore. England were beaten in T20Is and ODIs by India on home soil last summer, but as they had hoped then, the struggle made a real difference tonight. A gritty display to cling on in adversity... not a flawless performance and their middle-order batting remains a worry, but the fight was unequivocal. As for India, Harmanpreet's post-match mood was bleak. A home World Cup, and they are right up against it. Got to get back to winning ways against New Zealand or they'll be braced for an early exit.
For now though, from Miller, Shashank and Vairavan, good night!
Hypocaust: "That was the second highest scoring women's ODI, and highest scoring Women's World Cup match, to be won by a single figure runs margin."
Satyam Garg l: "2 brilliant knocks but the difference was 1 was 109 (91) the other 88 (94)"
Time for the presentations, here's Harmanpreet Kaur: "Smriti's wicket was the turning point for us. Still had batters, but I don't know how things went the other way. Credit to England. They didn't lose hope, they kept bowling and getting wickets. It's a bad feeling when you have put so much hard work in but the last 5-6 overs didn't go according to the plan. It's a heartbreaking moment. We are playing good cricket, we are not giving up, but have to cross the line. It's been the last three games where we showed up with good cricket, but ended up on losing side. Next game is very important. Our bowlers did a really good job, because when Heather was batting they were looking very good. Did a lot right, but last five overs, we have to rethink. Next game [against New Zealand] is very important"
Nat Sciver-Brunt: "So so happy. Everyone just showed how calm they were, really clear in what they had to do. In bowling innings, we had to stick in. A partnership obviously happened with Harman and Smriti and they looked like they were going to chase it easy. But we knew if we got a wicket, we could put on the pressure... Fielding is something we've spoken about before the game - haven't been tested towards the end of the innings with the ball. Wanted to be ready for that, but everyone came in with brilliant plans and executed brilliantly. Linsey was always going to bowl her last over, hopefully she could kill the game, and she did. Heather's innings was special, her use of sweeps and reverse-sweeps was brilliant. We messed up the last five-six overs but crucial runs from Charlie. Australia, one to look forward to, and get into the battle. So happy to get the qualification but want to take some confidence into the knock-outs."
Linsey Smith is talking to Sky: "Heart-rate's recovered, hamstrings in pieces. The fight we showed was amazing. I knew I had one over left, and I'd gone alright. Role is clear, lot of powerplay, a lot of death. Trying not to overcomplicate too much. Bowl a tight line into their heels and block off the off-side. Try to keep it simple and not rewrite the books. Back myself to do it out here. Out on the boundary, I was trying to take it all in. Learn as much as I can and put the big performances in for the team."
The Player of the Match is Heather Knight: "Really pleased, nice to get conditions conducive to batting. Felt we needed 300, frustrated with how I got out, and 300 caps, a big occasion. A tiny bit slow at the start, but more boundary options, I was free to play reverse-sweeps. Pleased with a match-defining innings. There was a gap so any nudge on it was away to the boundary square of the wicket. Back in the ranks is different, having responsibilty was good for me, but it's a slightly different role. Australia are a quality team, good chance to test ourselves against the best in the world now that we've qualified."
10.15pm Goodness me, what a match! The best of the World Cup so far, not that that is of any consolation to India, who now need to end their three-match losing streak if they hope to reach the last four. It was all under control while Mandhana and Harmanpreet were in harness, but neither could match Heather Knight's feat of reaching three figures, and that was ultimately the difference. Linsey Smith was immense with the ball, conceding her runs at less than four an over until her final ball, while Sophie Ecclestone came through a tough night with perhaps the decisive wicket, when Deepti Sharma holed out to deep midwicket. England take their place in the last four... who will join Australia and South Africa? India versus New Zealand is suddenly an utter humdinger!
So Linsey Smith... the most economical bowler of the match, can she close it out?
"Sometimes you need to do those sorts of things to get the balance right," Smriti Mandhana says about Jemimah Rodrigues being dropped in favour of Renuka Singh
The hosts had victory within reach but their tournament now stands on the edge with two huge games ahead
After Knight set up the game for England with a century, Smith closed it out with her clever left-arm spin
Mandhana 88, Harmanpreet 70 in vain as India suffer their third successive defeat
India must win this contest to avoid making their next two games a knockout