Sophie Ecclestone: England yet to play best cricket ahead of World Cup final vs Australia | Cricket News

“When we lost three from three, there were a few tears in the changing room after the game. But the turning point was having a few meetings to just say we had nothing to lose now. Obviously it’s a great feeling getting through to the WC final and hopefully we can put on a show on Sunday.”

Sophie Ecclestone (right) says England have yet to play their best cricket ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final vs Australia

Sophie Ecclestone believes England are yet to play their best cricket ahead of the Women’s World Cup final against Australia on Sunday.

The spin bowler claimed a maiden international five-for as England powered into the final with a 137-run victory over South Africa.

Ecclestone finished with figures of 36-6 as the Proteas were bowled for 156, in a match where Danni Wyatt top scored with a maiden World Cup century in England’s 293 for eight.

England opened the tournament with three consecutive losses, but a fifth-straight victory has seen Heather Knight’s side set up a final with Australia, and Ecclestone believes England have not been at their best so far.

“I think when we lost three from three, there were a few tears in the changing room after the game,” the 22-year-old spinner said.

Ecclestone admits there were tears after three losses from three to start the tournament

“I think everyone was very disappointed with how we’d gone, but I think the turning point was having a few meetings to just say that we had nothing to lose now, so just put what we do in training out into a game and go out with no fear.

“We still haven’t played our best cricket, so to get through to the final without playing our best cricket is obviously so good to see from this group.”

England did not win a single game in the Ashes this winter and also lost to Australia in their World Cup opening game.

However, Ecclestone urged her side to put on a show in the final on Sunday in Wellington.

“Obviously it’s a great feeling getting through to the WC final. It’s something we’ve been working towards after we lost three games at the start so it’s great to get to the final and hopefully we can put on a show on Sunday,” she said.

Ecclestone took six wickets in a sensational display to beat South Africa in semi-finals

“Beating the Aussies in the final, I can’t really put it into words after the Ashes we had. I really believe in this group and on our day we can definitely beat the Aussies – we’ve got a great chance.

“I know if we play our best cricket and our batters bat the way they can and the bowlers bowl the way they can, we’ve got such a great unit as a team, so we’ll just focus on ourselves and do the best we can.

“Hopefully we can go out and play our best cricket to prove the side we are.”

Watch the Women’s World Cup final between England and Australia live on Sky Sports Cricket World Cup from 1am on Sunday.