England Women v India Women World Cup Final: Tweak could make hosts twitchy

Ed Hawkins
21 July 2017

Will Heather Knight and co. suffer against India again?

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Ed Hawkins previews the showpiece from Headquarters on Sunday and wonders whether spin could derail the home team's challenge...

"In the absence of the right price on England, then, it is easy to make a case for a trade on India into jolly status at around the 1.84/5 mark"

Recommended Bet
Trade India 2.568/5 to 1.84/5

England v India
Sunday 23 July, 10:20
TV: live on Sky Sports

England

England have shown great resolve in this tournament. In their opener, they were well beaten by India. That coupled with the weight of expectation could have crushed them.

But they set about crushing others. Beatings have been handed out to everyone they have faced, apart from Australia and South Africa when they required nerve and skill under pressure to maintain a winning sequence which now stands at seven.

Their batting is formidable. In Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight, Sarah Taylor and Natalie Sciver they boast four of the top nine runscorers in the tournament.

They are not so hot with the ball, though, in terms of wickets. Their attack is based on containment and they do that pretty well.

India

India stunned Australia in the semi-final. Or rather Harmanpreet Kaur did. She razed the Australia attack with a quite extraordinary 171 off 115 balls. It has been called the best innings ever in a women's game.

What was notable about it was that it came after India were labouring. At the halfway point they seemed to think this was a Test match having collected 77 for the loss of two wickets. Then Kaur went into overdrive, collecting 20 fours and four sixes.

It was an important innings because India have had a reputation as a one-woman team. Skipper Mithali Raj. Before the Australia game she said: "Playing for a stronger side with more players to stand up and win games it gives you the freedom to play your shots and you don't have to think about what happens if you get out. 'What if you get out?' has always been in the back of my mind. India has always had that problem. Faced with crunch matches, the team doesn't step up." She might not have to worry anymore.

First-innings runs

England have twice busted 370 with their fearsome batting in this tournament and it would be reasonable to expect them to bust 300 again if they get the opportunity. India actually prefer chasing so it will be interesting to see if they hold their nerve if given the chance to stick England in.

Match odds

England are 1.625/8 with India 2.568/5. We suspect that is about eight ticks from being value on the home team, even if India won the earlier meeting between the two right at the start of the competition.

India posted 281 in that contest and squeezed England with spin. Funny. Can't remember that ever happening before. Deepti Sharma did the damage on that occasion and England might be nervous if the Lord's wicket takes spin as it appears to be this term.

In the absence of the right price on England, then, it is easy to make a case for a trade on India into jolly status at around the 1.84/5 mark.

Top England runscorer

Knight is England's top runscorer with 363, just in front of Taylor on 351. But the player that interests us is Sciver in terms of value. She has two tons in the tournament and a superior strike rate at 115.

Top India runscorer

Kaur is all the rage after she bashed Australia and Sportsbook have her in at 4/1. But despite that 171 she is not India's Mrs Reliable. That is Raj who tops the charts and the odds list. She is 13/5.

Recommended Bet

Trade India 2.568/5 to 1.84/5