sport news England's hopes of a Commonwealth women's treble end with both cricketers and ... trends now
And then there was one.
It had all been set up for a super Sunday, the chance of an England women’s team treble on the penultimate afternoon of action at these Commonwealth Games. But that dream died on a sorry Saturday as the home cricketers and netballers crashed out at the semi-final stage.
That double defeat means England’s women’s hockey side – after their last-four shootout win over New Zealand on Friday night – are now the sole focus of attention in Birmingham today. And they too have it all to do against Australia, who have won four Games golds to their none.
One final out of three is a disappointing return on what could have been another seminal day for women’s sport in this country, one week on from the Lionesses’ historic win at Wembley.
Yes, the cricket and netball teams will still play for bronze on Sunday. But winning gold in front of a full house at Edgbaston and the NEC, plus millions watching back home, would have really shone the spotlight on their sports.
Inspired by Maddie Hinch's heroics, England hockey will play Australia in the Commonwealth final on Sunday
They will know this a missed opportunity, for they have both experienced what winning a global title can do for the growth of their games.
In 2017, England beat India to win the Women’s Cricket World Cup at a sold-out Lord’s, inspiring young girls to pick up a bat and ball. A year later, netball participation soared across the country after the Roses claimed their first Commonwealth gold by stunning Australia in their own backyard.
On Saturday, though, those very same opponents exacted revenge to end the chance of women’s cricket and netball having another moment in the sun.
At the NEC, there was to be none of the drama of that glorious day on the Gold Coast four years ago, when Helen Housby scored in the last second to snatch a famous win. This time against the Aussies, the Roses wilted to a 60-51 defeat.
It was not meant to be this way for the defending champions. They had won five from five in the group, including a demolition of world champions New
