England booked their place in the semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup with a thrilling four-run win over co-hosts India in Indore.
Set 289 to win, India were cruising at 234-3 with opener Smriti Mandhana well-placed on 88.
But the opener’s soft dismissal, caught down the ground off spinner Linsey Smith in the 42nd over, was the turning point as the co-hosts completely threw away their winning position.
The run-rate climbed and although Deepti Sharma’s gritty half-century kept India hopes alive, the middle order buckled under the pressure and with 14 needed from the last over, Smith held her nerve with India finishing on 284-6.
India need to win their last two games to confirm a semi-final spot, having suffered three consecutive defeats.
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