Lisa Keightley: England still have a lot to play for

England lost to India by four runs in the Commonwealth Games semi-finals but can still claim the bronze medal on August 7

Lisa Keightley has backed England to bounce back from their agonising semi-final defeat against India, with a bronze medal still on the line for her side.

Playing in the first Commonwealth Games semi-final at Edgbaston, Smriti Mandhana (61 off 32) and Jemimah Rodrigues (44 off 31) starred with the bat for India, helping their side to 164 for 5 at close.

In reply, Danni Wyatt (35 off 27), Nat Sciver (41 off 43) and Amy Jones (31 off 24) also scored well but a nerveless final over from Sneh Rana secured India's spot in the gold medal match.

"It's a little bit different," Keightley replied, when asked how she would pick her players up ahead of their third-place match. "At World Cups we're used to being knocked out and you don't have to play again.

"There's a lot to play for. Getting a medal in the first Commonwealth Games and coming away with something is quite nice. I'm sure they'll be looking to improve, bounce back and show how we can play."

^{Keightley was full of praise for Smriti Mandhana [Alex Davidson/Getty Images]}

Though unable to hide her disappointment after the match, Nat Sciver, who is captaining England in place of the injured Heather Knight (hip), echoed her head coach's sentiments.

"Gutted. It's such a small margin game, T20s. We pegged it back really well in the first innings but couldn't quite get over the line. They came out on top today," she said.

"It will be a tough afternoon, probably a few quiet people, but playing for a medal is something we've wanted to do ever since we heard about the Commonwealth Games so we'll be out in full force [on Sunday]."

Pinpointing where the match was won and lost for England, Keightley was quick to praise both Mandhana's innings – "she probably hasn't played one better in a big match" – and India's slower bowling. She also conceded England's bowling unit were "a little bit off" and "didn't execute how we wanted to".

Asked if Sophie Ecclestone, who boasts a T20I strike rate of 134.34, should have been pushed up the order from No.8, she added: "We have had those conversations and I don't think she would have come in before Jonesy [Amy Jones] or [Maia] Bouchier.

"Katherine [Brunt] and Soph… Katherine won us the game the game before and has had such a good tournament, I was keen to back her. In hindsight you could flip it but we'll never know." 

Related Topics

• India defeat England to advance to Commonwealth Games final