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England captain Charlotte Edwards told ECBtv that winning the World Cup was a dream come true
Charlotte Edwards struggled to describe her feelings after leading England to World Cup glory.
The England captain looked a forlorn figure as she trudged off the field having made just 10 runs as England went in pursuit of 167 for victory.
But her sighs were soon replaced by smiles after Nicky Shaw and Holly Colvin completed a thrilling four-wicket victory.
“It's great having the trophy but I think it will take a couple of days to sink in,” she told ecb.co.uk.
“I'm not too sure what I am feeling at the moment but I am just so happy we got over the line in the end. We are world champions - it's just believing it now.
“We made really hard work of it but it doesn't matter how you win as long as you win. The girls have worked really hard.
“I was biting my fingernails at the end because I didn't want us to mess it up. We had done so well in the field, we bowled and fielded well, so to let it slip stupidly would have been disastrous. Holly and Shawsy had it all under control.”
Edwards had a particularly strained day, which started with having to tell Shaw she would not be in the final XI – Jenny Gunn’s late injury meant Shaw was the included moments before the toss – and ended by lifting the World Cup trophy.
But pertinent and always in Edwards’ mind is her father, Clive, who passed away three years ago.
“I have mixed emotions," she added. "It was hard telling Shawsy she was not in the team.
“You have to give a lot of credit to Jenny Gunn though for pulling out at the last minute. Everyone wants to play in a World Cup final but she was honest to the team and that is what this team is all about. There are a lot of great people in this dressing room.
“I am a bit emotional at the moment. My family are here, my dad passed away recently - I am feeling a lot at the moment. I am just pleased I have done it.
“My brother said to me three months ago that we would win it and I have done it.
“If I really put my mind to something it normally happens, but it would not happen if I didn't have such a great bunch of people around me. They have done fantastically well and it's great to see their faces. It's amazing.”
Official site of the England and Wales Cricket Board