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England beat India in final of ICC Women’s World Cup

England win by nine runs at Lord's.

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England celebrated victory last night at the ICC Women’s World Cup, beating India by nine runs after a thrilling comeback. Led by 25 year old Anya Shrubsole, the turnaround was witnessed by over 27,000 spectators at Lord’s, as well as over 100 million TV viewers. Shrubsole took five wickets in 19 balls, with England winning the trophy for the fourth time.

It marked the largest audience ever to watch a women’s game in the UK, in a season that boasts some top-quality cricket action still to come.

Captain Heather Knight hopes that the spectacular victory will encourage more young girls to take up the sport.

“I really think it will be transformative,” she said as reported in the Guardian. “There’s never been a better time to be a young girl in cricket and what a time to start playing.

“A lot of girls on the team took inspiration from men’s cricketers or older brothers or their dads, but what a spectacle today was. Hopefully it gets a few more girls inspired and playing the game. I know the England and Wales Cricket Board are in a great position to capitalise on our win and I’m sure they will.”

The team’s victory comes after a shake-up by coach Mark Robinson, who replaced Charlotte Edwards with Knight.

“I am lost for words,” the celebrated Shrubsole said, as reported by the BBC. “It is a dream. I never thought it would come true. To be back here as a World Cup winner is amazing.

“It is a fitting final of what was a brilliant World Cup. There was a huge amount of pressure.

“One of the great things about this team is we never give up. One defeat was never going to put us out of the World Cup but we showed a huge amount of fight and that was epitomised by today.”

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