IT WAS a mixed day for English cricket as England Women fell just short of reaching the World Twenty20 final while hours later, the men produced a brilliant display to win in the semi-finals.

Charlotte Edwards and her side needed 13 off the final over to beat Australia but Rene Farrell bowled an excellent over as England failed to muster a single boundary.

It was a gutting way to exit the tournament, especially after restricting Australia to 132.

England started well and were 89-1 after 14 overs. However, the wheels fell off and wickets fell at an alarming rate, finishing on 127 for seven.

“For me it’s quite simple, we’ve got to get fitter and toughen up a little bit,” said coach Mark Robinson after.

“We’re not fit enough, they out-ran us. Athleticism is something you’re given by God but aerobic fitness is something we’ve got to get better at because we missed out on twos.

“We’re looking for players who can stand up and be counted, players that can play under pressure and have that aerobic fitness necessary to do the job.

“That will be a necessity for any women’s team I’m in charge of going forward.”

The defeat will once again call into question Edwards’s role as captain but the 36-year-old, who became the top-scorer in the tournament with 31 here, wants to continue.

“Absolutely,” she said when asked if she still had the hunger to lead her country. “Of course I want to continue captaining England but if I’m not the right person then that’s not going to be my decision.

“I want to continue. I love what I do and hopefully I can continue giving my all to this group. I feel like I’m playing as well as ever.”

For the men, Jason Roy put in a batting display for the ages as the men chased the 153 put up by an unbeaten New Zealand side heading into the match.

Roy hit 11 fours and two sixes, scoring more than half of the target on his own, before Joe Root (27no) and Jos Buttler (32no) finished off in a blaze of three maximums in four deliveries.

“I think we bowled really well,” said Roy. “They have a hugely dangerous line-up and I just went out and tried to get the team off to a good start and it came off for me tonight.

“I just felt it was a chance to go out and get us off to great start. It was one of those totals that can be dangerous, I gave it a crack and it came off.

“I just looked for the runs that we needed and knocked them off. If you think about it (being in a semi-final) then it can be to your detriment.”