Cricket: England excel but lack killer instinct

Pete Davies

reports from Hyderabad

England 301-4

Denmark 107-5

England win by 194 runs

Another storming performance with the bat at Hyderabad's distinctly modest Gymkhana ground yesterday secured England a place in the World Cup quarter-finals. There may have been rats in the pavilion and water buffalo in the rank ditch behind it, but the openers Charlotte Edwards and Helen Plimmer turned in contrasting displays fit for a far finer arena.

Edwards hit 11 off the first over and never let up and her recognised potential is fast flowering into dramatic performance. When she was caught in the gully in the 13th over, her 72 had come off 54 balls in 50 minutes, with 13 punishing fours sent to all corners of the ground. "She was seeing the ball so well," said Plimmer. "I just gave her the strike. She was awesome."

Plimmer continued as a steady anchor while Jan Brittin crafted another good score of 51. She slowly nudged up her own run-rate with flawless technique, and much patience in increasingly muggy heat until a tired swing saw her stumped in the 44th over. Her 87 won her the award for the outstanding player.

Wicketkeeper Jane Cassar and captain Karen Smithies piled on more runs and for the second successive match England beat the record total from previous World Cups. That record was 297 for 5 by New Zealand against the Netherlands in Sydney in Pakistan. After Friday's 376 for 2 against Pakistan yesterday's 301 for 4 was not quite so almighty, but it was certainly far more than Denmark would ever score.

In truth, England really should thump teams like these. Barely 100 women play cricket in Denmark, and their coach, Allan Fromhansen, a tax inspector, said that the five games his players play in 10 days here is as many as they normally play in a year. Moreover, between injuries and illness, by the afternoon he could only send out nine batsmen - so he will be more than happy that they lasted 50 overs, scoring 107 for 7.

Despite the crushing win England will know that for the second match running, they have failed to kill off a very mediocre side. To put this in context, India, New Zealand and Australia have all played minnows - the West Indies, Sri Lanka and Pakistan respectively - and have all got rid of them inside the distance for less than 100.

While Denmark were prodding their way through 18 maidens yesterday, Australia were bowling out Pakistan for 27, and with second-string bowlers at that. Their total at the Lal Bahadur Stadium was the competition's lowest ever, two runs less than the Netherlands' 29, also against Australia, in the 1988 World Cup.

In short, England in the field may need another level of ruthlessness here - and must look to find it against Ireland tomorrow in Pune.

ENGLAND

C Edwards c Hansen b Brock 72

H Plimmer c Iversen b Nielsen 87

J Brittin b Soegaard 51

S Metcalfe st Iversen b Nielsen 4

J Cassar not out 43

*K Smithies not out 29

Extras (b1, lb6, w8) 15

Total (for 4, 50 overs) 301

Fall: 1-85, 2-171, 3-178, 4-243.

Did not bat: M Reynard, B Nicholson, C Connor, C Taylor, S Redfern.

Bowling: Kjaer 6-1-54-0; T Christiansen 4-0-29-0; Nielsen 10-0-51-2; Brock 10-0-55-1; Jonssen 10-0-52-0; Soegaard 10-0-53-1.

DENMARK

D Soegaard lbw b Taylor 2

D T Christiensen lbw b Redfern 4

J Philipsen lbw b Edwards 16

*J Jonssen c Cassar b Taylor 4

T Christiansen c Cassar b Edwards 6

K Mikkelsen not out 39

H Hansen b Reynard 2

S Nielsen run out 0

M Brock not out 8

Extras (b1, lb5, w20) 26

Total (for 7, 50 overs) 107

Fall: 1-8, 2-11, 3-15, 4-32, 5-53, 6-86, 7-93.

Did not bat: M Iversen, H Kjaer.

Bowling: Taylor 10-4-12-2; Redfern 6-2-13-1; Smithies 8-3-6-0; Edwards 9-3-21-2; Connor 7-3-10-0; Reynard 6-2-18-1; Nicholson 4-1-21-0.