Captain Sciver-Brunt puts body on line for England in World Cup clash

Nat Sciver-Brunt played the perfect captain’s innings to help guide her side to a four-wicket win in their ICC T20 World Cup group match against Ireland.

But the victory also saw Sciver-Brunt leave the field early while still batting due to tightness in the same calf that had disrupted her preparations for the tournament.

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Leader

The England Women’s captain had steadied the ship after her side had slipped to 35-3 inside the powerplay in the hunt for Ireland’s 118-9.

Together with Heather Knight, the experienced pair put on 64 for the fourth wicket to put victory within sight and ensure that the momentum from their opening win against Sri Lanka was maintained.

Sciver-Brunt was on 48 from 37 balls when she took the decision to walk off with just nine runs required, and instead it was vice-captain Charlie Dean who took the team over the line with 15 balls remaining.

Scare

Ireland certainly gave England a scare by removing both openers to catches by Gaby Lewis off the bowling of Aimee Maguire, and then dismissing the in-form Alice Capsey with a high quality yorker from Orla Prendergast.

But ultimately their total of 118-9 was well short of the sort of score that might have seriously troubled the home team who move on to face Scotland on Saturday.

They will have left arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone in rude health having taken 3-22 from her four overs to earn her the Player of the Match award, but she was ably supported by Dean and Dani Gibson who picked up two wickets apiece.

Opening bowlers Lauren Bell and Linsey Smith were a familiar threat at the start of the innings, which set the tone for regular dismissals throughout the 20 overs, something Ireland couldn’t replicate.

England’s World Cup schedule

12 June: Sri Lanka (Edgbaston) – won by 87 runs

16 June: Ireland (Hampshire Bowl) – won by four wickets

20 June: Scotland (Headingley)

24 June: West Indies (Lord’s)

27 June: New Zealand (The Oval)

READ MORE: Danni Wyatt-Hodge stars as England defeat Sri Lanka in T20 World Cup opener