Test Match Special - England Women overpower New Zealand at The Oval

Episode Date: June 27, 2026

Henry Moeran is joined by World Cup winner Isa Guha, Geoff Lemon and Annesha Ghosh to look back at England's convincing win over New Zealand to power into the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup. We hear from player of the match Danni Wyatt-Hodge, both captains as well as the England head coach Charlotte Edwards. And Alex Hartley tells Dan Norcross what it's like playing in a World Cup semi-final.

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semifinals in the richest vein of form. A comprehensive victory by nine wickets against the New Zealand side that knew after Ireland's victory over West Indies that they just had to win this game and they would be qualifying for the semifinals. It wasn't to be 164 the target, a partnership of 128 unbroken between Danny Wyatt Hodge and Sophia Dunkley.

Dunkley finished 49, not out. Wyatt Hodge unbeaten on 89, has now scored more runs in a single edition of an ICC Women's T20 World Cup than anybody else and we haven't yet reached the knockout stages. She was phenomenal, 89 off 53. And so not only does New Zealand's hope

of qualifying and retaining their trophy come to an end but the careers of three greats at international level. Leita Hoohoo, Sophie Devine, Susie Bates take their bow, head off the oval ground and say goodbye. to an international career, but between them, and I think you can group them together, has been one of the most symbolic and important ones

of women's world's cricketing history. I think it wouldn't be overstating things to say that. We will get some reaction from the outfield shortly, no doubt hearing from player of the match, who I imagine will be Danny Wyatt Hodge, but alongside me, Anisha Gush, cricket writer and broadcaster. We've been treated to a spectacular performance

from a spectacular side, to make it five from five. Absolutely on brand from England. They've been clinical with the ball, clinical on the field. One of the best fielding units they've been across this 12 team competition. And with the bat in hand once again,

they've showcased just how well drilled, well-oiled they are as a unit. And they're going to be an absolutely unstoppable force heading into that semi-final. They'll be playing against either India or South Africa because England have finished unbeaten on top of group 2 slash group B, which means they'll be taking on the second place side,

which will be determined tomorrow, and only after the second game of Sunday's doubleheader at Lords. Indeed, with two matches taking place at Lords to determine things. Bangladesh against South Africa, and if South Africa were to win that, then India would have to beat Australia to qualify. So that is the lay of the land, and of course you can hear it all on test match special.

But England, victorious here, to seal what's been a fabulous group stage right from that first game against Sri Lanka at HBaston where Wyatt Hodge scored that brilliant 100. She's passed 50 since then and done so twice. 89 off 53 unbeaten today. England winning by nine wickets. It has been dominating in front of a crowd of 21,000.

A record for a group stage match at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup. And yeah, there's no question about it. and go into those knockout stages in red-hot form and certainly looking like a side that can go on to lift the trophy. It's going to be compelling once we get to those knockout matches

to see if the form can continue. They'll be playing at the Oval, the ground they love. And after New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first, it did rather feel as if they were a little bit taking a chance unless they scored a monster total that England, as they did, would gobble things up so easily.

That's how it proved. and they were able to get over the line with time to spare and make it quite comprehensively five from five. To win by nine wickets and to do so in double quick time. We'll be getting some reaction in just a moment from the player of the match. You'll hear from the two captains knows well. And yeah, I think it's fair to say this has been spectacular from Wyatt Hodge who is going to be chatting to Ebony Rainford-Bred.

excellent performance of 89, not out of 53 balls. It is Danny Wyatt Hodge. Thank you so much, Isha. Danny, I'm getting a little bit bored here. This is your third player of the match. I feel like I keep asking you the same question. You seem like you're in great form. Yeah, I mean, T20 cricket's a fickle game, isn't it?

You've got to start again every time. Yeah, it's always a beauty of a pitch here at the Oval. And, yeah, I really enjoyed biting out there tonight with my mate dunks. I understand she was bridesmaid at your wedding, so you guys go way back at Best of Friends and you play here regularly together. How well do you know the surfers and what is it like being out in the middle together? Yeah, it's always pretty flat out there. And then once the rain came down, it was getting on quite nicely.

So yeah, we just tried to, you know, back ourselves, hit our strengths, battle with intent and just enjoy it out there. We've seen some of your shots comfortably up over, extra on the offside. Is that your game plan you're going to take forward? Well, yeah, I was just telling Isha off there. I fell out of a tree when I was 10, so my wrist has actually grown a weird way, which enables me to hit over there. So, yeah, if the ball's there, then I'll try and hit the gaps,

but, yeah, keep going. Obviously, a hero's exit there for three of the New Zealand players. One in particular really impacted you, didn't you? Yeah, Susie Bates was one of my idols growing up, so, yeah, pretty emotional scenes there tonight. yeah Sophie and Leah as well what amazing careers they've had over the years

yeah they've been outstanding haven't they and it's yeah really really sad to see them go and finally you're into the semi-finals unbeaten as a side how excited are you for this final stage yes I think we've got to wait for the Oz India match to see

who we're going to play and when so yeah we'll just sit tight watch the football tonight get a feet up and yeah be ready brilliant thanks so much Danny and congratulations again. Thank you. The inimitable Danny Wyatt Hodge, who always, always just feels as though

she is playing with utter freedom, never bogged down by a sense of overthinking and just playing in the form of her life. 164 for one, England concluded. And it's extraordinary that, you know, we see a tournament now where targets like 164 are just being eaten up so, so quickly. And as hyper-conclusive, course tells us on social media, five of the sixth highest successful chases at women's T20 World Cups have happened during this tournament. We're entering a different world these

days, Anisha. The growth of the women's game and credit to the ICC for having chosen the shortest format in international cricket as the vehicle of dissemination of the women's game across the globe. And we'll see the power game in women's cricket only go from strength to strength. In this particular edition especially, we've seen how at ease most batters, especially the frontline ones of Lugman it comes to exploiting the reverse V from Marizan Cup today, Susie Bates, Sophie Devine and even Danny White Hodge. That will continue to expand and we'll see more and more 360-degree players evolve and emerge on the world stage.

England will be facing either South Africa or India. Who would they roll of the face, do you think? It's an interesting question. I think they would want to have a go against South Africa simply because of the backstory, the history behind both these sides. And if they do run into India, as Isha Goham mentioned, I feel India will end up winning the competition if they are able to clear the Australian challenge tomorrow at a lot.

And do you think they can? India? Yeah. I think so. But they have to get the better of Australia first up, which won't be easy, which is where I think they'll fluff their lines. Yeah, indeed.

Very emotional scenes here at the Oval, as we said goodbye to the international careers of Sophie Devine, Susie Bates, and also Lear Tahoehu. It's rather sad actually the game finished with Tahoeho bowling wide, which does not fit a player of her quality or indeed the careers that we've seen of those three. And I was a little disappointed with the response of the crowd here at the Kennington Oval as well because they thought that was on purpose. Clearly not because she gets a lot of swing. And even with that final ball of her international career,

it was possibly the movement of air that cost the undoing and gave away that final run by way of an extra. But both Danny White Hodge being in the middle alongside Leah Tahoe, who is also crucial because they're now mums, right? And the fact that women cricketers can allow themselves to be mothers and apply their trade at the highest level, speaks to the development and the growth of the game that we were talking about earlier. Indeed. We'll be hearing from the captains in just a second,

but England can't have wished really for a better group stage. They've had enough wobbles to help them hone their skills, but equally five and five. Brilliantly done, flawless, as they would have wanted, because the forward-going momentum that they got in their first game, I think they've done really well to continue building on that because any kind of hindrance or if they're... there is any impeding of that momentum throughout group stage play. Who knows, a good tournament that you start out thinking you're going to absolutely ace it,

you might drop a game and this could be the curtains coming down on your tournament. But they've done well to sustain that momentum and they'll be highly confident, no matter who they face in that semifinal either on Tuesday or Thursday. Yeah, and that depends on whether India qualified. Because if India do qualify, they have to play on Tuesday. At 2.30 here at the Oval, the other. semifinal is the evening of Thursday. So you get the advantage, perhaps, of a longer break between the group stages and the semifinals,

but equally a shorter turnaround time if you are to qualify for the finals. So that is, I suppose, the deal that you make. 164 was the target for England. They gobble it up inside of 18 overs with Wyatt Hodges, 89. Dunkley's 49, both unbeaten. Part of the reason I think the crowd booed that final moment was because it prevented Dunkley reaching a half century and I'm not sure that necessarily it was quite realised the

historic moment that had that had just gone ahead in front of us but yet ends of careers are always difficult but players who get the opportunity to choose when that is are a rare commodity and the fact that three at once were able to do so is testament to the longevity

of those careers and quite how impressive they have been as a trio so here at the Oval England signing autograph happy as can be. The momentum is good. The quality of the performances have been outstanding.

And they look alongside Australia, a lot of the teams to beat. Absolutely, because they are unbeaten so far after group stage play with Australia. Still having that last fixture in Group A remaining to be played tomorrow. And you spoke of, you know, the fact that Leah Tahu, Susie Bates, Sophie Devine are getting to hang up their boots on their own terms.

I think that is so crucial because not every player, at least in the women's game, especially the ones who have really toiled hard a part of their careers, spanning out in obscurity. To have that option in itself is a big, big privilege and a luxury at the same time. Here's happening alongside the two captains. First of all, Meeley, before we get to the cricket, a hero's exit for three incredible cricketers, how are the emotions? Yeah, I think, obviously that's probably the saddest part about it all was. Yeah, three legends of the game, I guess, leave our environment and women's cricket and I guess the service they've given to this shirt and everything they've done around the world. They will be missed and we'll make sure we celebrate them tonight.

Anything personally as well that you've learned from any of those three that impacted your game and captaincy, I should say. Yeah, I think I've learned so much coming into the White Ferns as a young kid, those three were there and mentored me and welcomed me. and along the journey I've been fortunate to play 10 years of my career with them which probably back then they didn't think they were going to be able to play that long so for me I feel very grateful to have spent that long in a changing room with all three of them well South Africa managed to get Shabnamishmil back for one more maybe you can keep them engaged but let's get to the cricket first of all just your emotions and reflections on today yeah obviously Ireland gave us a chance to make the semis and I guess it was in our hands

today to give ourselves the best chance and there were moments with the bat where I thought we had a platform and unfortunately lost a few wickets quickly but even with 160 odd if we bowed well we give ourselves a chance and Danny played beautifully but also I think we probably offered up too much width with the ball reflections on the toss as well obviously you chose to bat first a little bit more green on the surface did that feel like it came into play at all and it seems a bit easier batting on the lights yeah I think probably if you look at the conditions now after the game.

It's skidded on, maybe a little bit more. But I don't think too much changes in 20 over cricket. And, you know, if we get more runs to put them under more scoreboard pressure and we bowl a bit tighter, then the game becomes a lot closer. Plenty more cricket ahead, obviously, in the future. What are you going to take from this tournament as learnings for you and your team? Yeah, I think we can all recognise it's been a disappointing tournament for us. And, you know, we'd love to be having a shot in the semis.

For us, the exciting thing is there's a lot to work on and there's still a lot of good stuff we're doing. But if we can, I guess, get 5% better in the field with the bat and with the ball, we can be a really dangerous side. And there's so much exciting young talent within this group that they're only going to get better and better. Brilliant. Well, Mili, thanks for your time and your team's time in this tournament and travel home safe. Thank you. Cheers. All right, time to invite over Charlie Dean that we're winning captain for tonight for England.

First of all, in front of a big crowd, you were through to the semis unbeaten. How does that feel? Yeah, brilliant, I guess. That's what we set out to do. We wanted a topped group. And to do that in front of such a brilliant crowd tonight has been, yeah, it's really special. Danny White Hodges in the run and form of her life. What are you feeding her?

What's going on? Why is she played so well? To be fair, she's not sleeping much and still scoring absolute runs. Yeah, she's been exceptional for us. The way she's really pushed her game on, and she still wants to get better. And I love that about Danny. You know, she's a ultimate 360 player now.

And, yeah, she's been exceptional for us. What's been the biggest strength, do you think, for your team, that's why you're in this such a strong position at the moment? I think everyone's stepping up at different times. You know, our batting orders has really stepped up when they've needed to and different people contributing. I think we know our roles as a bowling group as well and starting to get more comfortable with that.

And yeah, it's been great to have a lot of momentum. That's what tournament cricket is about. is winning the games in front of you, and hopefully we can do that again. Had a chance to play on the surface that you'll play in the semis next week. What have you learned, and how are you going to prepare over the next few days? Yeah, I guess at the Oval there's always a little bit of extra bounce. You know, that square, it flies away. So you know that as a bowling unit, you've got a small margin for error.

So, yeah, we've got to be really tight with our lines and accurate. And as a batting unit, we can put our hands through a few balls, and hopefully that will be the case, similar conditions on Tuesday or Thursday. Danny mentioned it she's off to watch the football England boys playing tonight will you be supporting? Yeah of course real yeah hopefully we can all go to the pub and watch them brilliant thanks so much for your time and congratulations again with a Diet Coke of course there you go well that was dug out as beautifully as as Danny White Hodge digging out a full Yorker that was nicely handled by Charlie Dean there so England top group B with five wins from five ten points and

net run rate of positive 2.13. Second and qualifying West Indies five games, three wins and two defeats. Then it's Sri Lanka, same record, but inferior net run rate. New Zealand, five games, two wins, three defeats. And they are the top four in the group. So that's how we see qualification. That victory for Ireland means that fabulous marquee result for them, which is a wonderful story from this World Cup

and similarly to have seen a Scotland side getting a victory in there as well is brilliant news for them in that win against Ireland early on in the tournament. So what about Group 1? Well that sees Australia top on 8 points. They can make it 5 from 5 as well. India and South Africa vying for that second qualification place.

Bangladesh are in fourth played for 1-2, lost 2. is their record at the moment. The most they can make is six points. I mean, in theory, they could yet qualify, but it would require a massive net run rate swing. Pakistan in fifth, having only won the one game, and Netherlands have lost all that they've played on their tournament debut. So that is how things are looking across the tournament.

And it has been, once again, let's just have a little word on this crowd, a record for a group stage match. Anisha, 21,000, it was rocking. Absolutely, and this was my first time here at the stadium, whether as a commentator, as a spectator myself, and I thoroughly enjoyed, I think the very feel, the vibe of the stadium is conducive to watching T20 match in the evening

and credit to England, the home team, to have delivered the kind of all-round convincing sensational performance that they have and lots of positivity, lots of great memories for the crowd here at the Kennington Oval to take home and probably return again with come Tuesday. But speaking of returning, I wonder, Henry, what happens now, to the impending return of Nat Silverbrandt,

given how well Sophia Dundley has performed. Indeed, good problems to have for England. Good problems to have as they head through to the semifinals, potentially two games away, from repeating what every England side that's hosted a World Cup has done, and that is lift the trophy. Well, shortly we're going to be hearing from England's head coach, Charlotte Edwards.

but before that what about a little bit of an assessment of the culture change that has come about for this England side who have been so excellent during this tournament. Jeff Lemon was joined by Ishigua and Anisha Gosch to discuss exactly what has changed. New Zealand do need to win this game, but England have looked like the side out there who are more fired up and more sharp. Yeah, I think it's just the aura that they've created in the build-up to this tournament and through picking up wins right throughout. you know, everyone seems to be contributing.

Anytime an opposition side gets away, there's someone to come in and break the partnership and take wickets. And you just feel that anyone that comes on has that ability, and that is such a great place to be as a team going into a semi-final. For New Zealand, I'm still querying

why they decided to bat first at the toss. I was, honestly, I just could not believe that they batted first on this surface that was dry underneath, and we know here at the overall, The lights come on and it quickens up. And they love chasing as well New Zealand. So I'm still, my mind is boggled with that decision.

They didn't get enough runs. We did have some entertainment with the openers and then Sophie Devine obviously smacking a few sixes, but England kept coming back. Really good last over from Lauren Bell. But they needed 180 really to be in a position to really threaten England. You never know that they might come back here and they might turn things around with the ball. They've been bit too loose in the power play, too much width. And it's just been feeding deliveries for England.

But I would say England very much in charge and with the momentum in this game. Even with 100. I think they were in a bad position if they'd started like this. Exactly. I mean, I actually look at this England team and I were back them to chase 200 on this surface. Just the way and the confidence that they've been playing with. So, but a good opportunity for them to just kind of get a feel for playing. here at the Oval again. I know they've played here before

but ahead of a semi-final and all important semifinal, it's good to play at the ground that you're going to be involved in a lockout in. What do you make of the confidence of this England side? Because they came into this tournament as something of an unknown factor.

They had a pretty rough 18 months or so. They weren't a team that convinced a lot of people. I spoke to Charlotte Edwards only maybe about three weeks ago, not long before the tournament. started and she was very upbeat but there wasn't a sense of upbeatness around this team from people from onlookers and yet they've hit the ground running in this tournament had that huge win in their

first game but they look like a team that have their different parts working smoothly where the components are ticking over at the moment and they look like a team that's had a much better like a longer run of good form coming into this than what they actually had it does feel like quite a sharp You're describing a well-oiled engine at the moment. That's what it feels that this team is and that winning mentality that's been created. And I think the calmness with Charlotte Edwards is the fact that she had the ideas, the planning, the preparation of what she wanted it to look like for months even before she took the job. She would have been watching this team for the last two or three years and going,

this is what I would do. This is how I'm going to create this culture of competitiveness within the group to create that winning mentality. as a winner, having won the World Cup in 2009, been the captain of us as a T20 side, as a one-day side. And yes, it's not, it makes the players uncomfortable. I remember what it felt like back then to be part of a side where you were looking over your shoulder and you had to perform, otherwise you would lose your spot. It's quite stressful. And we know that World Cups are stressful.

They just are. But to have built that level of competition throughout the group ahead of this tournament, I mean, you look back to the start of the summer against New Zealand and then India they weren't playing their best cricket at all you know we were looking at them going their fieldings awful that needs work there were situations where you felt

they're batting still not clicking they didn't know who was playing where or in each position Danny Whitehod wasn't part of the side that's if a Brunt was out of the side players absent at different times for different reasons and some of those unclear and there was so much mixed messaging I felt around this side.

But I think that was actually a blessing in disguise because the other players had to step up and it became almost that competition for the starting 11 which you saw in everyone's eyes. You know, the players that just wanted to perform just so they can make the starting 11 and that's the culture that was created

essentially ahead of this tournament. They had to squeeze someone out of that batting lineup and it happened to be Severe Dunkley, who we know can be a dominant player, and then she came out, picked up that 50. And actually, by having players that are on the bench performing when they come in, it does relax you as a side when you know you have that depth behind you. And I think that's basically what's happened to this team coming into this tournament. And sorry, I know I'm talking a lot here.

My last point, my last point that I'll make is... There is no such thing as too much talking while it's raining. Bye Isha Guha and me at that. Bless you. Six months to 12 months ago, I would have looked at this bowling attack and I would have thought if an opposition team gets after them,

they won't know how to handle it. But I genuinely believe, with the all-rounders that this team have and the added experience and Lauren Bell playing in the WPL and backing herself in the power play, all these things that have come together. just relying on Sophie Eccleston to get them the breakthrough.

Every single one of those players, Charlie Dean getting smacked for a six in the last game and the game before that, coming on and getting the breakthrough, getting a wicket, not being phased by people getting after them, I think is massive, massive for this team and their ability to win this World Cup. And being able to have a bowler like Eccleston come on

after a frugal power play, and there are only 14 overs left and she'll be bowling four of those. so they just they have different leavers to pull at the moment. Absolutely. The power play success that they've had has meant that she can come in and set it into a nice rhythm. You know, she was tested today. There's no question of that.

But then, you know, she bowed the penultimate over and she was entrusted with the ball for that over. I think, you know, Tilleen, Corti and Coleman being amongst the group and people talking about her as the future of English cricket, you know, might have. just switch something in Sophia Kirsten's mind to say, hang on a second. I am the kingpin here. I am the number one. Yeah, and you've got to get past me if you want a spot.

Yeah, if you want a game. Absolutely. And I think that is the same that is felt for every play. You look at Heather Knight. There were questions over her place in the side until that partnership with Alice Capsi in that final decider against India. And then again, even in the last three match, yeah, a couple of days ago, people questioning whether she was the right person to go in when she did and whether they should have had Ken Paul Gibson, the runout of Danny White Hodge and she was still able to go at a really good way on that pitch. Her experience came to the four and got them to a competitive total.

The big covers are coming off. That's the good news from the Oval. So hopefully our correspondents who were downstream, down the airstream will be right about the storm blowing over quickly. It's been a bit of a contrast, Anisha, with this Indian side who could still qualify. They've got to beat Australia tomorrow to do it. They haven't looked completely cohesive or completely comfortable like to have that kind of clarity about who has what job, who is supposed to do what in the side. Even that win against Bangladesh was not as authoritative as you would expect it to be with the disparity in resources. and if they do manage to pull something out tomorrow,

I wonder whether that's just on the back of one individual dramatic performance from somebody rather than having a completely cohesive approach to this tournament. And what happens after that? It's also something I want to ask, Isha. They run into a red-hot, well-oiled. England, who will be in pole position, India would be second, should South Africa not go through, and then you are having two teams on the opposite ends of the spectrum.

one really looking very cohesive and the other doesn't quite have a clue as to what they're middle order should be like yeah in semi-finals it really is anyone's game even if they haven't been looking good we know that india can still do something magical so i don't think if they just need to get through tomorrow they just need to be australia somehow and australia have been looking good let's be honest india haven't that tomorrow is more of the concern I think if they get through tomorrow, they will back themselves in a semifinal. And actually, England haven't lost, like, they wouldn't have lost if they get through today with a win. And so there will be a few nerves around in a semi-final, in a knockout. I always think in a World Cup, the semifinal is the hardest game to play.

I think you've played your good cricket in the tournament stage, in the group stages. And then when it comes to a knockout, the best team at that over 20 years has been Australia. They somehow, in knockout games, just know how to win knockout matches. And that will come into England's psyche when it comes to a semi-finals. So I don't think they will be as concerned if they get through here, India. But, you know, England playing at home, they're feeling good, they're feeling comfortable. You know, Charlotte Edwards will look at that side and go, I've done everything I can. The players have done everything that they can to be as ready as possible for a semifinal.

65 for one is the England's score where we've had a break for rain. We're just rolling up the matting cover from the pitch now and the ground staff out there in their orange polos and shorts. Of course, you always have to wear shorts if your ground staff. That's compulsory no matter the weather, but it is still pretty warm out there on a hot London summer's evening. But it looks like we'll be able to get back on relatively briskly as they roll up those covers and take them off.

So England at the moment need a further. 99 runs from 13 over. to win. They don't actually need to win this game. But that feels important as well, Isha, that you've got a game that you don't need to win to go through. And that can be a test for a team as well as to whether you are actually on, whether you're switched on for the tournament. And England have felt completely switched on through the entirety of what we've seen so far. They want this. I think that's what we're seeing in this team is the ruthlessness that they possessed. They are not resting on their laurels. They know that that winning mentality,

that just breeds confidence within the group. If you're in a semi-final and your backs against the wall, it will help you through it to know that you've won and you keep winning. You do not want to take your foot off the gas in tournament cricket. The role of Charlotte Edwards that you were talking about earlier, it's been an interesting thing to observe over the last, say, 10 years since she finished up playing, spent a couple of years doing commentary where both of us worked with her pretty extensively on different games. And then even through that period of time, I always felt like she was itching to get back in there. She was twiddling her thumbs. And like you say, thinking about, well, if I were coaching this

team, here's what I would do. You could have plenty of conversations with her after hours that would inevitably circle back to this. Well, they should be doing this, or they should be doing that, or this player should be working on. And she did her coaching apprenticeship, and I didn't try to get that England job immediately, trained up through the leagues, through the franchises, and seems to have time to run pretty well now, to have come into this job when she wasn't muddled up with the times that she'd been a player. There is a distinct change of era. She's somewhere else now in her life and her career.

but took over this team at a time when they desperately needed somebody to take over. There can't have been many lower ebbs for a high-level international cricket side than 16 nil on points in Australia coming back after a total series wide wash. I think at the same time, you can't underestimate the impacts that previous eras have had on this team. You know, Charlotte Edwards has been the icing on the cake in terms of building that the mentality of this side. But in terms of the skill levels, you know, the previous kind of era of John Lewis and Heather Knight, what I saw from them was they wanted to kind of follow suit with the England team in that they wanted to be ultra aggressive. And we saw this team play without fear of failure. And we saw some incredible cricket being played at different times.

of course we saw some failures as well but you need that you think back to the Owen Morgan era ahead of that 2019 World Cup win where they just wanted to go out there no fear of failure let's see what we can do let's see how far we can push it

and then they had to kind of bring it back and I think the fact that these players have known what their capabilities are and then they've come into this era where okay how do we combine that with being smarter with our cricket and that winning men And that is what Charlotte has created.

And you're right, the apprenticeship of, you know, doing well with the Southern Brave. The players trust her. A lot of players in his side and his squad have played under her at the Southern Brave and then the Mumbai Indians. And so just that that trust that's built up between them and her, I think stood her in good stead to take this side over. Well, to close of play, having overseen five wins from five, the BBC's Matt Henry spoke to the England head coach Charlotte Edwards. Charlotte, does it get any better than that for a win in a World Cup? Yeah, it was pretty special tonight. I guess you never quite know when there's not much on the game.

Obviously, it was for us in terms of we wanted to top the group. But, yeah, to put in that performance on the ground that, you know, we're going to play a semi-finally is really pleased. And so really, really proud of the group. And the group stages of whole, that's five wins from five. You've been pushed a little bit at times, but you've been pretty dominant. How would you rank, how would you rate it overall? Yeah, I think

obviously the goal was to win the group and obviously to go through unbeaten is really pleasing I think our batting's been particularly powerful and obviously a real positive for us I thought we bowed really well tonight on a good pitch I mean you saw how good that pitch that was so I think we seem to be

getting better with each game which is really good going into the sort of of our guest business for the end of the tournament now. Does it feel like beliefs building? Yeah, absolutely. I think it's a confident group.

I think they're feeling we can win from anywhere but equally different people always putting their hands up within the group and putting in those match winning performances is what we've always asked for. So yeah, we're quietly confident

and obviously looking forward to a big next week. You say everyone's chipping in but some are doing it more than most. Danny Wyatt's Hodges in some form, isn't she? Well, yeah, I mean, in tournaments like this, you need certain individuals performing as well. And, you know, she's obviously been a massive standout for us. You know, especially with, you know, obviously everything that's happened to Danny coming into this tournament,

a new little baby, Daisy. So she's taken to motherhood really well, actually. So long made that continue. But, yeah, there's been other contributors throughout, which has been really pleasing as well. She overtook your total of T20 World Cup runs today. Oh, good honour. No, she's obviously been a great performer for England for a number of years now, and yeah, couldn't be proud of her. What is it about playing here at the Oval? Because you've never lost here, England.

The girls just speak so highly of the ground, the pitch. They love playing here, which is, I guess, a real bonus for us coming into this really important week and an important game. We don't know if we're playing Tuesday or Thursday, so we're looking forward to that. hopefully we'll have another sell-out. What will your message be to the team over the next week? Just keep enjoying it. Keep preparing really, really well, which we have done. Keep enjoying, you know, and hope we want this journey not to stop. And, yeah, I think it's going to be incredible next week, hopefully.

Can you go all the way? Yeah, I think, you know, the way the team are playing, but we obviously know now with the teams that we're likely to play in the semifinals, one of the world champions of the ODIs and one of the world champions of the ODIs and one have played in every T20 World Cup final for the last three years. So it's not going to be easy. But we're going in with the most confidence probably we've ever done into a semi-final and a lot of belief, like you say.

And lastly, do you mind who you play? South Africa, Australia, India, do you mind? I don't care. I just wanted to be here. You give yourself the chance of, you know, we're one game away from a Lord's final, which has always been the goal. That's really exciting. But also I think

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Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts. That was the thoughts of Charlotte Edwards. England now looking ahead to a semi-final at the Oval next week. But what does a home semi-final bring for the players, in the dressing room. Daniel Norcross can tell us more. And I am joined by a woman who has played in a World Cup semi-final at home

with the prospect of a Lord's final beckoning. But your semi-final, Alex Hartley, did not take place at the Oval. It was a different kind of tournament feel, wasn't it in 2017? Weren't in all the big major grounds until he got near the back end? You played your semi-final against South Africa,

who are very likely to be England's opponents. Tell me what you can remember about that game. I was commentating it and it was berserk. I was on the floor at one point beating my fists in frustration. What must it have been like to play? Well, I remember just being an anxious mess, to be honest with you, you know me and my memory.

It's not the best at the best of times. But the thing that sticks out to me is the fact that I nearly batted. And everyone was panicking and the fact that I nearly batted, which was not good because we were trying to avoid that at all costs. And I remember just sitting on the bench. And, you know, we needed like four to win, not very many balls to go. and Heather Knight was like, take your thigh pad off.

I was like, what do you mean? She's like, take your thigh pad off. I'm like, okay, take my thigh pad off. She's like, okay, are they the smallest pads you've got? I'm like, yeah. She's like, right, okay. And it's obviously like, if you're not on strike, don't have your helmet on, take your gloves off,

just do whatever you can to get down the other end. Grief, so it was try to sort of strip you bare, so the one thing that you could do was run. Yes, and then it was like, if you're, if Ishmael's bowling at you, just let it hit you and run. That was like almost like what the conversation was. Which is completely fair,

because I wasn't very good at batting and, you know, we all know that, you know, I was probably the worst batter that's probably played for England. But I just remember just trying to stay in control of that game. It was a lovely sunny day. I wasn't very good against South Africa. They were like my memesis during that World Cup because it was one of those where every time we needed a wicket, I'd get brought on to ball, but against South Africa,

I just couldn't seem to ever get a wicket. Chloe Try on, I remember, just kept hitting me into the stands. At Bristol and I was thinking, well, I'm not sure we're going to have a total weekend chase here. I remember it being so, so tense sort of throughout. And part of the tension was because what there was at the end of it. I mean, San Africa made 218 for six. Do you remember your bowling figures, by the way? None for 56?

No, you're nothing like as bad as that. No, I know it was none for 40. That was bad for me that time. Well, it was, but it was only four and a bit, never. South Africa made 218 for six. Mignon de Priya, unbeaten 76. Can you believe it? Laura Wolfart, she's very young then.

66, opening the batting. Marizanne Cap, still playing. She'll probably be playing against England. Daneefar Nekirk is back in the squad. She was captain. She might be playing in the game against England if it comes to that matchup. Chloe Tryon, Sunilis.

I mean, there's a very familiar names, Chavne Mishmel, Ayabonga Kaka. It's very similar side, isn't it? from the one that, you know, England are likely to play. So you restricted them to 218, and then the run chase, it was going so swimmingly. And then it suddenly wasn't. And I think it was at that point when I was actually hiding behind the desk. I was just peeking up every now and then to see another wicket go down.

Because you were eight down. You were next in. That was, no wonder you were scared. Yeah. No wonder they were taking all your gloves. Well, I cried. When Anya crunched a ball through the covers before, I burst in tears out of relief.

Did you really? Yeah. Yeah. I think so did I. But I wasn't even playing. Wow. Because I just, if I'd have gone into bat and I wasn't able to get that ball through the covers,

I would have felt like it was my fault we hadn't got through to a World Cup final. And there is no better person that you want going in at number 10 than I knew shrubs on. Because she's so calm. Yeah, well, I mean, she was so calm in that final. Did she not show any of the kind of jitters and nerves? It was, oh, give us a battle, sort this out. Literally exactly that.

She's like, oh, I'll go in. What do we need? What do we need? Two, easy. Bank, two. Well, I'll tell you exactly what happened. At 173 for six, the wheels had briefly fallen off after you had lost four wickets for 34. Then a partnership was Fran Wilson, got things going again.

But 213. 213 for six at that stage, all you needed was six to win, wasn't it? 2.13 for six. You need six to win with four wickets in hand and two overs, and everything feels great. And then before you know it, you're looking up, and there's two to win with three balls left to go. Yeah.

And yeah, I remember she just... Did you used to call her hoof? The hoof, yeah. The hoof? Well, it was a bit of a hoofy shot, was it? It was like a thump through the off side. Yeah, I think it was lovely caressed and glided through the outside. Did you think of it?

Yeah, that was exactly how I thought of it. But Anya did love playing through the offside. and as soon as they brought cover up, it was like, okay, that shot's on for Ania, so just create a little bit of room and hit the ball through the covers and just her running out arms and batting one hand, obviously a glove in the other, cheering down the other side. I think she was stealing with Jenny Gunn, was she? She was, Jenny Gunn, unbeaten on 27 at the other end.

Yeah, and I just remember running towards Jenny Gunn, and I was just like, thank God for that. I bet. So now, obviously, you've got the relief of not having to bat, but was it relief at getting into a final? Because in a way, you know, it was sort of you were sort of expected to, which is a very unfair position for a team to find itself in, which you're expected to reach the final.

Was there a bit of relief there as well about that? It didn't click. You know, I went down onto the pitch to shake the hands of South Africa and then ended up doing a couple of interviews. And I think it was Izzy Westbury I was talking to, for whoever she was writing for at the time. And she said there was a moment where you went from, friend in the middle of this interview to, oh, wait, I'm playing a World Cup final. And it was almost

like that jokey Alex Hartley that I am went to very serious, oh, I need to get my head around what's about to come. And I think that, you know, that feeling of yes, we've made it to the World Cup final, but we've got a job to do. And I think that's when it hit me that we were going to be playing at Lords and it was sold out and the pressure of that. I mean, the whole way through that World Cup. I was new to the team. I was very ignorant. I think you need your experience of your Catherine Siver Brunch, your Andrew Stubbils, your Jenny Gunn. But you also need that inexperience of somebody like me that has no scars and has no expectations or anything that's happened in the past to really put you off what could happen in the future. And that was my job

and I just came and I was like, well, I've got a job to do and it's to get people out. And so what if we play in India or Australia or whoever it may be? Well, like I said at the buildup, a lot of the tournament was played. I don't, I'm not going to belittle the grounds they were in, but they weren't played in front of packed crowds at the Oval or lords. So when you've now got this game, and apart from the pavilion, which was unusually empty, everywhere else was completely full,

how was that atmosphere? When you turned up there, because nothing could quite have prepared you for that. No, I really wasn't ready for it at all. I was quite an anxious player, and Heather Knight, you know, she was very, very good at calming me down and very good at just focusing my mind on what needed to happen. She came over, she's like, you're okay.

I was like, yeah, all good. She's like, how are you feeling? I was like, fine. I'm just going to look at the empty seats. She's like, sold out. There aren't going to be any empty seats, Alex. And I was like, oh my word. Like I'm playing in my first ever sold out stadium.

And it did get me at first. And I remember the National Anthem. And there's a tribute to Rachel Hayhoe Flint. And, you know, I got a little bit emotional and knowing that my whole family was there. And I was like, crying a little bit. And then I was like, okay, actually. focus switch on and you know bring yourself back down to earth

and then as soon as you step on the outfield look you notice that there are thousands of people there cheering you and India and at some stages it felt like we're in India at some stages it felt like we're in England and you knew very much the crowd felt quite 50-50 but you do block it out

you block out the noise and the tactic that we had and what we had to do is just always keep an eye on Heather because if she was shouting at me at fine leg I wouldn't be able to hear or unless I was looking at her. So, yeah, it was different for us, whereas now it's the norm for these girls, isn't it?

You know, they grow up playing in the 100. Tilly Corti and Coleman will have played in front of more people in the 100 than she has for England, which, you know, we never got that luxury. Fascinating insight from Alex Hartley there alongside Daniel Norcross, somebody that has been there and done it in winning a home world cup. That's Alex, I should say, rather than Daniel, despite his efforts, I'm sure that.

day is probably been and gone, I think it's fair to say. And that's it for this episode of the Test Match Special podcast. Thank you so much for listening. Don't forget to subscribe on BBC Sound so you never miss an episode, including all the reaction from the men's test series against New Zealand. It has been a thrilling group stage for England's women during this T20 World Cup. They've been dominant, five wins from five. They head through to the semi-finals.

Matches played on Tuesday of England face Indian. or on Thursday if it is to be South Africa. Look out on the BBC Sport website and app for all the details. Thank you so much for listening. We'll speak to you again soon. The TMS podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live. In the Ranger Rover Sport, performance is more than a promise. It's something you feel on every drive.

With the choice of powerful mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid engines, Range River Sport responds instantly, bringing unbridled power and precise handling. It's a perfect balance. Explore more atrangerover.ca. How did a boycott Jimmy become a billionaire from posting videos? On Good Bad Billionaire, we're going to find out how the world's most popular YouTuber, Mr. Beast, made his fortune. He's buried himself in a coffin for days. Counted to 100,000 on camera.

And even recreated Squid Games, all in an attempt to go viral on the internet. But it all started when he gave a homeless man $10,000. So is he a philanthropist re-shaping capitalism? Or is he just the king of the attention economy? Find out on Good Bad Billion. Listen on BBC.com or wherever you get your podcasts.