- guardian.co.uk, Thursday 11 June 2009 20.24 BST
Charlotte Edwards batting under the sun at Taunton during England's comfortable victory. Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
There is a peculiar pressure on England's women cricketers in this competition: they are expected to win it; they should certainly reach the final. Paul Collingwood's team is spared that burden.
But there were not many signs that Charlotte Edwards' side is weighed down by expectations. They delivered an exuberant display at Taunton against India. In the field the dark blue figures swarmed towards the batswomen in waves before subsiding for the next delivery. No one is allowed to stay still for the 80 minutes. And it was self-evident that they were thoroughly enjoying themselves in the process.
India are one of the four sides expected to make the semi-finals – alongside England, Australia and New Zealand – but they were brushed aside by 10 wickets with 4.2 overs to spare. For England so much rides upon this tournament in terms of the profile of the women's game. The chance to play the semi-finals and the final at the same venue as the men will give them access to unprecedented crowds as well as blanket TV coverage.
The spectacle yesterday would have been fine for TV. There were 3,000 spectators, including scores of schoolchildren, who were determined to enjoy themselves. The minister for sport, Gerry Sutcliffe, was also in attendance as was Steve Elworthy, the tournament director clearly contented by how both competitions were going and marvelling at how the men have managed to dodge the rain.
This is a different game from the one played by the men but no less beguiling for that. The batters were more orthodox. Just two reverse sweeps were played all day. Amita Sharma was bowled attempting the shot. Edwards mischievously tried one with six to win and missed.
The six hit – even at Taunton – is an event. There were none in the Indian innings, two beauties from Edwards over the leg side and two in the early match, in which West Indies beat South Africa by five runs .
The harsh observation is the one that Bill Alley once delivered after being subjected to an endless and ultimately irritating encomium about the perfection of Tom Graveney's batting. When the lecture finally came to an end Alley eventually responded with "But he can't bloody slog". There was no slogging from England yesterday. None was necessary; instead they stroked the ball to victory.
From the start England were buoyant and bright. They opened the bowling with an off-spinner, Laura Marsh, a converted seamer. Jack Birkenshaw, the assistant coach and the ideal appointment, soon spotted the possibilities and set about tutoring a willing pupil with immediate results.
Marsh barely bowled a bad ball, nor did Holly Colvin, the left-arm spinner, who stifled India during the middle overs. England were not flawless; there were frantic overthrows and the odd dropped catch but their energy never once waned.
After a cagey start both Sarah Taylor and Edwards, the player of the match, cruised along with increasing assurance and power. Since India are, by a huge margin, the second best team in this group the English women, at least, are guaranteed a semi-final berth.
