LONDON: India have the chance to alter the course of cricket history when they face hosts England in the ICC Women’s World Cup final at Lord’s on Sunday.

Since the tournament’s inception in 1973 — two years before the men’s World Cup started — it has been dominated by England and Australia, with New Zealand, in 2000, the only other country to have won the event.

The final sees this year’s edition come full circle, with India having upset the form book to beat England by 35 runs in the tournament opener in Derby on June 24.

“It isn’t going to be easy for England,” promised India captain Mithali Raj after her side’s stunning semi-final win over six-time champions Australia in Derby on Thursday.

A 36-run victory over the title-holders was built on Harmanpreet Kaur’s stunning 171 not out.

An innings full of correct yet powerful shots ought to have banished any remaining stereotypes about ‘demure’ women’s cricket in general and the India team in particular.

Certainly there was nothing ‘ladylike’ about the fiercely competitive Kaur’s angry reaction towards batting partner Deepti Sharma after almost being run out on 98.

For Raj and India pace bowler Jhulan Goswami, the leading run-scorer and wicket-taker in women’s One-day International history respectively, this could be the last chance the two 34-year-olds have to win the World Cup.

But the significance of the day goes far beyond what it means to their cricket careers.

India’s win in the 1983 men’s World Cup final at Lord’s turned the country on to limited overs cricket and led the world’s second-most populous nation to become the sport’s financial powerhouse.

An India win on Sunday could have equally far-reaching consequences, as Raj acknowledged.

“It’s an opportunity for the Indian team to make it big in India,” Raj, appearing in her second World Cup final 12 years after her first, said. “Everybody will be glued to the television on Sunday,” she added while recalling how India’s 98-run defeat by Australia in the 2005 final at Centurion, South Africa, was not even broadcast.

“If we can pull it off, there will be nothing like it. It will help the future of women’s cricket.”

One pleasing aspect for India of this World Cup is that they have not been over-reliant on Raj and Goswami, who nevertheless produced the delivery of the tournament to bowl Australia captain Meg Lanning for nought in the semi-final.

The likes of Smriti Mandhana, Punam Raut and Sharma have also stepped up when needed.

England, since their opening defeat by India, have had the potentially useful experience of winning two close games, defeating Australia by three runs in pool play before seeing off South Africa by just two wickets in a semi-final where they stumbled chasing a modest target of 219 in Bristol on Tuesday.

England captain Heather Knight is one of several seasoned campaigners along with bowlers Jenny Gunn and Katherine Brunt.

Knight hopes her side will have saved their best for last on Sunday.

But since that Derby disappointment against the Indians, England have gone seven games unbeaten, edging out defending champions Australia by three runs in pool play before just seeing off South Africa by two wickets in a tense semi-final at Bristol on Tuesday.

“We keep finding ways to win at the moment, we haven’t quite put the perfect performance together, we’d readily admit that,” said Knight.

“There’s still one game to go and if we put a perfect performance in then, I’ll be a very happy captain,” the top-order batswoman added.

“What a [semi-final] game and we’re delighted to get to that final. We back the depth in our team and we’re finding ways to win at the moment.

“The plan was to get to Lord’s and sing our [team victory] song and we’re one step closer to that.

“It was a massive carrot going into the semi-final and lucky we had the wise head of Jenny Gunn to get over the line, so we’re delighted,” explained Knight, looking to lead England to a fourth World Cup title and first since 2009.

Probable teams:

ENGLAND: Lauren Winfield, Tammy Beaumont, Sarah Taylor, Heather Knight (captain), Nat Sciver, Fran Wilson, Katherine Brunt, Jenny Gunn, Laura Marsh, Anya Shrubsole, Alex Hartley.

INDIA: Smriti Mandhana, Poonam Raut, Mithali Raj (captain), Harmanpreet Kaur, Deepti Sharma, Veda Krishnamurthy, Sushma Verma, Shikha Pandey, Jhulan Goswami, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Poonam Yadav.

Umpires: Shaun George (South Africa) and Gregory Brathwaite (West Indies).

TV umpire: Paul Wilson (Australia).

Match referee: Steve Bernard (Australia).

Published in Dawn, July 23rd, 2017