Cricket

London Spirit emerged victorious in their clash against Manchester Originals at Lord's, securing an eight-wicket triumph with eight balls remaining. Georgia Redmayne's stellar performance, coupled with Heather Knight's composed innings, proved decisive in the chase.Despite a challenging start, Redmayne showcased her resilience, amassing 66 runs from 59 deliveries. Her innings was characterized by patience and determination, guiding Spirit towards their target. Knight, the England skipper, provided valuable support with a composed 29 from 27 balls.The Originals' defense was hampered by missed opportunities, with dropped catches on both Redmayne and Knight proving costly. The Spirit's fielding was exceptional throughout, including a brilliant caught and bowled by Sarah Glenn and a superb catch in the deep by Cordelia Griffith.Earlier, Charlie Dean and Sarah Glenn restricted the Originals to a modest 112 runs. Dean's impressive spell yielded three wickets for just 20 runs, while Glenn's contribution included a crucial caught and bowled. Kathryn Bryce emerged as the top scorer for the Originals with 32 runs from 27 balls.Redmayne, the Meerkat Match Hero, acknowledged the challenging nature of the wicket but praised her team's bowling performance. She emphasized the importance of staying calm and playing to her strengths.The victory marks a significant achievement for London Spirit, who have now secured two wins in the competition. Redmayne's match-winning knock and the team's overall performance have instilled confidence as they look ahead to their remaining fixtures.

London Spirit's Heather Knight orchestrated a stunning six-wicket victory over reigning champions Southern Brave in a thrilling encounter at The Hundred. Chasing 152, Knight's unbeaten 65 from 31 balls proved decisive, guiding her team to victory with three deliveries to spare.Southern Brave's innings was anchored by Danni Wyatt's 59 from 35 balls, making her The Hundred's all-time leading run-scorer. Maia Bouchier contributed 35 before a mix-up with Wyatt led to her run-out. Georgia Adams and Chloe Tryon propelled Brave to 151 for 6.Spirit's reply began slowly, with Meg Lanning dismissed by 16-year-old debutant Tilly Corteen-Coleman. Georgia Redmayne provided momentum with 45 from 31, before Charli Knott's direct hit removed Dani Gibson.Knight took charge, hitting three consecutive boundaries off Knott to bring Spirit back into contention. Despite Knott's dismissal of Gibson, Knight remained composed, dispatching Adams to the boundary for the winning runs.Knight's match-winning performance earned her the Meerkat Match Hero award. She acknowledged the difficulty of beating Brave at home and praised Wyatt's innings. Knight emphasized the importance of clear shot selection and the impact of the quick outfield in enabling Spirit to catch up quickly.

England's women's cricket team capped off an undefeated home summer with a 20-run victory over New Zealand in the final T20I at Lord's. Captain Heather Knight led the charge with an unbeaten 46 off 31 balls, guiding England to a competitive total of 155 for 7.New Zealand's bowlers, led by Fran Jonas' career-best figures of 4 for 22, had initially put England in a precarious position at 87 for 6. However, Knight's timely knock, supported by Charlie Dean's 24 off 19 balls, steadied the hosts.In response, New Zealand's batting woes continued as England's bowlers made regular breakthroughs. Lauren Bell claimed three wickets, while Freya Kemp and Dean took two each. Amelia Kerr's 43 off 36 balls proved insufficient as the White Ferns fell short of the target.England's 5-0 sweep of the T20I series extended their unbeaten streak against New Zealand and Pakistan to 13 completed matches. The victory marked a fitting end to a successful summer for the hosts, who had also won the ODI series against Pakistan.

England's dominance over New Zealand and Pakistan this summer can be traced back to a pivotal T20I loss in New Zealand in March, according to captain Heather Knight. That defeat sparked a conscious effort to address mental barriers in T20 chases, leading to a ruthless streak that has characterized England's recent performances.Knight praised the team's improved skill level and relentless pressure, which has kept New Zealand's key players quiet. Despite the opposition's struggles, Knight emphasized the quality of England's bowling attack, led by spinners Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, and Charlie Dean.The hosts have also showcased their batting depth, with Maia Bouchier and Danni Wyatt securing the opening berth and Sophia Dunkley rediscovering her form. Dunkley's versatility and ability to bat up and down the order could earn her a place in the T20 World Cup squad as the spare batter.However, England faces a selection conundrum with teenage left-arm seamer Mahika Gaur, who has missed games due to injury. Knight acknowledged the need to manage young fast bowlers carefully, but Gaur remains in contention for the World Cup squad.England's spin-heavy attack is likely to travel to Bangladesh, with Lauren Filer providing raw pace and Nat Sciver-Brunt increasing her bowling load. Freya Kemp is also returning to her allrounder role after a back injury.Knight emphasized that England's recent success is not solely due to the opposition's performances, but also reflects the team's ongoing improvement. She highlighted the team's ability to beat anyone on their day, as demonstrated in the Ashes series and the T20I series win in India.As England prepares for the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, Knight expressed confidence in the team's ability to continue their winning ways in a major tournament.

England's upcoming T20I series against New Zealand will serve as a crucial test for the team as they prepare for the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh. Captain Heather Knight emphasized that while conditions in England may differ from those in Bangladesh, the team will strive to simulate potential scenarios and combinations.Despite the challenging weather conditions in Southampton, Knight stated that England will focus on playing teams and implementing strategies that they anticipate encountering in Bangladesh. This approach aims to prepare the team for the specific conditions and challenges they may face during the World Cup.England's recent ODI series sweep against New Zealand has instilled confidence in the team, allowing them to maintain an experimental mindset regardless of the pitch or opposition. The team's dominant performances, including a comfortable chase of 212 in Bristol, have showcased their depth and adaptability.Knight revealed that England is nearing the finalization of their squad for the T20 World Cup, with only a few spots remaining to be determined. The selection process has been challenging due to the impressive performances of the players, highlighting the intense competition within the team.Freya Kemp's return as an allrounder and Sophia Dunkley's inclusion in the squad after a disappointing tour of New Zealand earlier this year add depth to England's options. Seamer Lauren Bell's breakthrough performance in Bristol, where she claimed her maiden five-wicket haul, has boosted her confidence and solidified her position in the team.Knight praised Bell's resilience and determination in overcoming a difficult period where she was working on modifying her bowling technique. She believes that Bell's experience will be invaluable for the team going forward.

England, the reigning world champions, have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series against New Zealand. In the third and final ODI at Bristol, England captain Heather Knight won the toss and opted to field first.Despite heavy rain earlier in the day, the toss proceeded as scheduled. However, a downpour immediately followed, forcing the covers to be reapplied and delaying the start of play.England made three changes to their lineup, giving opportunities to Sophia Dunkley, Sarah Glenn, and Lauren Bell. Dunkley replaced Danni Wyatt, Glenn replaced Sophie Ecclestone, and Bell replaced Lauren Filer.New Zealand also made two changes, bringing in Hannah Rowe and Eden Carson for Jess Kerr and Fran Jonas.England's batting lineup features Tammy Beaumont, Maia Bouchier, Heather Knight, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Sophia Dunkley, Amy Jones, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sarah Glenn, Kate Cross, and Lauren Bell.New Zealand's batting lineup consists of Suzie Bates, Georgia Plimmer, Amelia Kerr, Sophie Devine, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Lauren Down, Isabella Gaze, Hannah Rowe, Molly Penfold, and Eden Carson.The match is currently underway, with New Zealand batting first. England will be looking to complete a clean sweep of the series, while New Zealand will be aiming to salvage some pride.

England captain Heather Knight opted to field first after winning the toss in the second ODI against New Zealand in Worcester. The hosts, buoyed by their dominant nine-wicket victory in the series opener, aimed to secure the series with a game to spare.England welcomed back experienced seamer Kate Cross, who missed the first ODI due to an abdominal strain. Alice Capsey also returned to the side, while Nat Sciver-Brunt was deemed fit enough to shoulder more bowling responsibilities. Sarah Glenn and Lauren Bell were the players to make way.New Zealand made a solitary change to their lineup, bringing in Lauren Down for Hannah Rowe. Down, who recently returned from maternity leave, slotted into the batting order at No. 7.England:1. Tammy Beaumont2. Maia Bouchier3. Heather Knight (capt)4. Nat Sciver-Brunt5. Danni Wyatt6. Amy Jones (wk)7. Alice Capsey8. Charlie Dean9. Sophie Ecclestone10. Kate Cross11. Lauren FilerNew Zealand:1. Suzie Bates2. Georgia Plimmer3. Amelia Kerr4. Sophie Devine (capt)5. Maddy Green6. Brooke Halliday7. Lauren Down8. Isabella Gaze (wk)9. Jess Kerr10. Molly Penfold11. Fran JonesThe match marked the first time that England had fielded an all-female umpiring team in an international fixture. Claire Polosak, Sue Redfern, and Jasmine Naeem took charge of the proceedings.

England's upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand will serve as a crucial preparation for the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh later this year. Captain Heather Knight has indicated that the team will experiment with different XIs in home conditions to establish better role clarity ahead of the ICC tournament.The series begins with an ODI leg, followed by a five-match T20I series that will provide more suitable preparation for the low, turning pitches expected in Bangladesh. While the ODI series is not part of the ICC Women's Championship, Knight emphasizes that winning remains a priority.However, the team will also use the opportunity to try different combinations and tactics, particularly in the T20I series. The hot and dry conditions in Durham are expected to favor spin, providing a similar environment to what England will face in Bangladesh.Knight acknowledges that the team has a familiar feel with the return of Sophia Dunkley and Nat Sciver-Brunt, but Kate Cross's injury has forced a late call-up for Ryana Macdonald-Gay. The 20-year-old has impressed in domestic cricket and on England A tours.Meanwhile, New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine believes her team can cause an upset. Despite losing the previous series against England, Devine highlights the team's introspection and training efforts as reasons for optimism. She also praises opening batter Lauren Down, who is returning to international cricket after giving birth to her daughter.

Western Storm's Heather Knight, fresh off a disappointing T20I series against Pakistan, showcased her form ahead of England's upcoming series against New Zealand with a commanding 66-run knock. Her innings propelled Western Storm to a 142-run total against Sunrisers, who were condemned to the wooden spoon in the Charlotte Edwards Cup.Knight's 74-run partnership with 20-year-old Emma Corney, who contributed a career-best 46, laid the foundation for Storm's competitive score. Despite Sophie Munro's impressive four-wicket haul for Blaze, Storm managed to post a challenging target.In response, Sunrisers' Grace Scrivens and Jo Gardner made a promising start, but their momentum was halted by a series of quick wickets. Scrivens fell for 26, while Gardner's aggressive 22 was cut short. Lissy MacLeod's first-ball dismissal further dented Sunrisers' hopes.Despite Jodi Grewcock's valiant 40, Sunrisers were unable to recover from their early setbacks. They fell 11 runs short of their target, ending their tournament as the bottom-placed side for the fourth consecutive year.Knight's performance was a timely reminder of her class and experience. Her ability to anchor the innings and score at a consistent pace proved invaluable for Western Storm. Corney's breakout knock also bodes well for the future of English cricket.