By Matt Somerford
Charlotte Edwards revealed she promised to buy Kate Cross dinner after the number 11 helped her reach a record-breaking ninth one-day international century in yesterday’s series-clinching 13-run win over India at Scarborough.
Edwards was in danger of being left agonisingly just a run short of three figures when 22-year-old Cross strode to the wicket.
Cross was intercepted on her way to the crease by her skipper, who delivered her incentivised plea, before watching the Lancastrian ably fend out Shivanand Rajeshwari to deny the India spinner a five-wicket haul.
Edwards then wasted no time in bringing up her ton, cutting the first ball of the next over from Ekta Bisht to reach her landmark.
“I’ll let you in on a secret - I told Crossy I’d buy her dinner if she stopped the ball when I was on 99,” she said. “I owe Kate Cross dinner!”
It was deserved reward for Edwards who tied together a skittish performance with the bat by her team before England Women claimed the three-match series by narrowly defending 214 for nine.
Edwards admitted afterwards that the new-ball spell by India seamer Jhulan Goswami was one of the best she had faced during her long career.
The 34-year-old was subdued by Goswami’s pace and bounce – Edwards managed just 12 from her first 43 balls – and was at one point left wringing her fingers in pain by a ball that reared up into her gloves.
“I just said to Gossy that was one of the best opening spells I’ve ever faced from a seam bowler in terms of the lengths she was hitting and the bounce she was getting as well,” Edwards said.
“It was tough. Although we want to get off to quicker starts sometimes you have to appreciate that the bowlers are going to bowl in good areas.”
The graft Edwards was forced to put in was reflected in her celebrations when she finally did reach her century, in the penultimate over.
“It did mean a lot. I had to work really hard for my first 20 runs,” she said.
“It reminded me a lot of my innings in the World Cup in India when we were under pressure and I didn’t start particularly well. I had experiences of that in my head and just kept telling myself to bat through and you’ll come good in the end.
“I was delighted to get another international hundred as they don’t come around very often and it was a fitting place to get it as this was my second one here.”
Despite Edwards’ century, England needed the late heroics of Jenny Gunn with the ball to ensure they would head to Lord’s on Monday with the series secure.
India had needed 45 from the last ten overs, with five wickets in hand, before Gunn inspired a collapse of five for 30 in a half-hour period.
Gunn herself returned 4-23, and took a pair of catches including a sharp return effort to remove the dangerous Goswami, and after she was England’s stand-out performer in the Test defeat at Wormsley, Edwards believes Gunn is in the form of her life.
“She is. She’s always someone I turn to with the ball and they’re the kind of magical things she does in the field as well,” she said.
“We call her hands ‘massive mits’ and she catches things I could only dream of doing. She’s 28, hopefully she’s in the prime of her life and we’re going to get two to three good years out of Jenny Gunn at international level.
“I’ve backed her all the way and she’s been a fantastic servant to English cricket.”
Edwards was also proud of her side’s battling qualities as they ensured the perfect start to the new ICC Women’s Championship.
“There were a few wobbles out there but the strength of this team is that we never know when we’re beaten,” she said.
“They needed 40 runs off ten overs with five wickets left, and to fight back from that position and still believe. I kept telling them to believe and that we’ve got this.
“With two bits of magic from Jenny Gunn it was easy in the end.”