England were eventually rewarded for their aggressive approach with the bat, though they were at times faced with a similar approach from India’s batters, and will need to be prepared for others – mainly Australia – to do the same.
Mandhana played beautifully, combining her trademark elegance with explosive power, smashing three fours from Katherine Sciver-Brunt’s wayward second over and confidently taking on off-spinner Charlie Dean down the ground.
The opener was crucially dismissed by Glenn in the 16th over when 47 runs were needed, but England were then faced with 19-year-old Richa Ghosh’s brutal hitting, whose unbeaten 47 got India closer than they probably should have.
Katherine Sciver-Brunt finished with 0-39 from three overs and leaked runs at the start before struggling for rhythm in the final over, when she was defending 31 – what should have been a formidable task for India.
Instead, she bowled a waist-high no-ball that went for four, followed by another four and a six, to give India a glimmer of hope before successfully closing out the win.
England have other seam options in Freya Davies and Kate Cross, but Hartley says the decision is not that simple.
“It is really hard to ask the question because she’s been so good for England for a number of years but in the two most recent World Cups she hasn’t performed as well as she should have liked, but away from World Cups she has bowled really nicely.
“It is really hard to drop someone like her because she has such an amazing record. England could rest her for Pakistan, knowing you have the semi-final, and play someone else, but I would keep it the same and back her.
“She has already said this is her last World Cup – there is no place for sentimentality in sport, but do England have the minerals? They might not think that is the right way to go either.”