Heather Knight gears up for another Lord’s final

Heather Knight led England to victory in the 2017 World Cup, after beating India in the final at Lord’s. She is gearing up for another Lord’s final.

But for her tenacity, grit and class, England may have struggled to earn that ticket to the T20 World Cup final. The top-order had been dismantled with the new ball by the South African quicks, but she stayed calm and firm, lending admirable support to skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt, who came up with another of her big match-winning knocks in the shortest format.

Knight had every reason to smile when she met reporters at the mixed zone after England’s 40-run victory in the second semifinal. And remember, her place in the team had been questioned by some, pointing at her strike-rate.

But her coach Charlotte Edwards, from whom she took over the England captaincy back in 2016, has kept faith in her. “The more people were writing her off, the more I knew she was going to put in a performance like this,” Edwards had said after Knight’s 42-ball 70 not out helped England win the third T20I against India just ahead of the World Cup at Taunton.

Knight said the partnership against South Africa was one of the best she has had with Sciver-Brunt. “And we have had a few, but this is up there,” she said. “I think our cricket complements each other really well. She is obviously quite leg-side dominant, I am a bit more off-side dominant. I like playing in finals at Lord’s, it is always very special.”