Cricket

England Dominate South Africa in Women's T20 World CupSHARJAH, United Arab Emirates - England showcased their all-around prowess to secure a convincing seven-wicket victory over South Africa in the Women's T20 World Cup on Monday.England's spin quartet, led by the exceptional Sophie Ecclestone (2/15), stifled South Africa's batting in the death overs, limiting them to a modest 124/6 after the Proteas elected to bat on a challenging wicket.In response, England lost two early wickets, but opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge (43 off 43) and Nat Sciver-Brunt (48 not out from 36b; 6x4) seized control of the chase. The duo forged a match-winning 64-run partnership that propelled England to victory with four balls to spare.South Africa's innings began promisingly, with Laura Wolvaardt anchoring the top order. However, Ecclestone's dismissal of the skipper for 42 triggered a collapse, as the Proteas lost four wickets in the final four overs and managed only 39 runs.Legspinner Sarah Glenn complemented Ecclestone superbly, conceding just 1/18 from her four overs.England's victory marks their second consecutive win in the tournament, while South Africa's hopes of reaching the semi-finals have suffered a setback.

Trent Rockets emerged victorious in a thrilling encounter against Birmingham Phoenix at Edgbaston, keeping their Hundred campaign alive. The Rockets, who entered the match tied on points with Northern Superchargers, secured a three-wicket win with just three balls remaining.Birmingham Phoenix, without injured captain Sophie Devine, endured a shaky start, losing three wickets within the first 15 balls. Alexa Stonehouse dismissed Ellyse Perry, while Nat Sciver-Brunt accounted for Fran Wilson and Amy Jones. However, Sterre Kalis and Richa Ghosh steadied the innings with a record 95-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Kalis scored 47 off 44, while Ghosh contributed 41 off 36.Sciver-Brunt, who finished with figures of 2 for 16, and Ashleigh Gardner, who took 2 for 17, played crucial roles in restricting Phoenix to 112 for 6.In response, Trent Rockets lost early wickets, but Sciver-Brunt and Gardner put the visitors in control of the chase. However, a flurry of wickets between balls 70-80, including a run-out from Perry, made the task more challenging.A debatable no-ball call reprieved Josie Groves, and Katie George joined Groves at the crease to guide the Rockets home."We probably got ahead of ourselves a bit earlier and gave ourselves a bit of relief towards the end," said Sciver-Brunt. "It's still all in our hands, if we beat the Oval Invincibles in our last game then we will be in that top three."

Welsh Fire continued their impressive start to the Hundred with a controlled six-wicket victory over Trent Rockets, extending their winning streak to three matches.Rockets captain Nat Sciver-Brunt elected to bat but faced an early setback as openers Bryony Smith and Grace Scrivens were dismissed in quick succession. The middle order, led by Sciver-Brunt and Ash Gardner, attempted to rebuild the innings, but Sciver-Brunt's dismissal for 37 left the Rockets struggling. Gardner and Heather Graham pushed the score to 130, but the Fire bowlers, particularly Freya Davies and Jess Jonassen, kept them in check.Welsh Fire's chase also began with a shaky start, losing Sophia Dunkley and Tammy Beaumont early. However, Hayley Matthews and Sarah Bryce steadied the ship, forming a crucial partnership of 49. Sciver-Brunt struck again to remove Matthews, but Jonassen and Bryce maintained the momentum. Georgia Elwiss joined Bryce after Jonassen's departure, and the pair added a further 44 runs.Bryce remained unbeaten on 51 from 39 balls, guiding the Fire to victory with two balls to spare. "We knew if we just built partnerships together, there were runs out there," Bryce said. "Jess is a great runner. Winning is a habit, and we have had some tight games when different people have stood up at different times."The victory consolidates Welsh Fire's position near the top of the standings, while Trent Rockets' third consecutive defeat leaves them in a precarious position.

Birmingham Phoenix finally broke their 12-match losing streak in The Hundred with a thrilling three-run victory over Trent Rockets at Trent Bridge. Australian star Ellyse Perry played a pivotal role for Phoenix, shining with both bat and ball.Phoenix opted to bat first and got off to a steady start with Sophie Devine and Sterre Kalis forming a 32-run opening partnership. However, Alana King provided the breakthrough for Rockets, dismissing Devine for 17. Perry then joined Kalis at the crease and accelerated the scoring rate.Perry played a blistering knock of 66 from just 34 balls, hitting 11 fours and four sixes. Her partnership with Kalis yielded 102 runs from 60 balls, setting a competitive target of 139 for Rockets.In the chase, Rockets lost early wickets, with Perry dismissing Scrivens and taking a brilliant catch to remove Bryony Smith. Nat Sciver-Brunt looked in fine form, reaching her sixth half-century in The Hundred. However, the dismissals of Ash Gardner and Sciver-Brunt brought Phoenix back into the game.Rockets needed 27 runs from the last 10 balls, and Heather Graham gave them hope with a flurry of boundaries. However, Phoenix held their nerve, with Graham falling short by two runs on the final ball.Perry, who was named Meerkat Match Hero, expressed her delight at the victory. "We played with a lot of spirit today and it's nice to get over the line in a tight one," she said. "The total felt defendable, but they chased well. To hold our nerve at the end was awesome."

England's dominant batting performance, led by Danni Wyatt's rapid half-century, propelled them to a commanding 59-run victory over New Zealand in the first T20I at Southampton.Wyatt's blistering 76 off 51 deliveries, adorned with 11 fours and a six, set the tone for England's imposing total of 197 for 3. Nat Sciver-Brunt (47 off 23) and Maia Bouchier (32 off 26) provided valuable support, showcasing England's class and ability to manipulate the crease effectively.New Zealand's chase faltered from the outset, with Georgia Plimmer's run-out. England's spinners then took control, with Sarah Glenn (3-16) and Charlie Dean (2-28) leading the charge. Glenn's hat-trick in the 10th over, including the wickets of Suzie Bates and Maddy Green, left New Zealand reeling at 64 for 5.Despite Jess Kerr's defiant 38, New Zealand's innings was plagued by missed chances and a lack of partnerships. Freya Kemp, returning from injury, claimed the final wicket with the last ball of the match.England's victory not only secured a 1-0 lead in the five-match series but also allowed them to catch the start of their football team's Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland, having missed only 26 minutes of the match.

Nat Sciver-Brunt's all-around brilliance propelled England to a resounding 178-run victory over Pakistan in the third and final ODI at Chelmsford. Sciver-Brunt's unbeaten 124 from 117 balls anchored England's innings of 302 for 5, while her two wickets in her designated five-over spell, including Pakistan's top-scorer Muneeba Ali, showcased her return to bowling after a knee niggle.Despite leaving the field with a slight hamstring niggle, Sciver-Brunt expressed satisfaction with her performance. "I had a great time, and it's a great way to finish the series," she said. "The body is pretty sore! It's probably not my quickest five overs ever, but I was happy to bowl in a consistent area."England's bowling attack was spearheaded by Lauren Bell's two wickets in the powerplay, while Sophie Ecclestone's 3 for 15 included her 100th ODI wicket in a record-breaking 64 matches. However, Sciver-Brunt's batting heroics overshadowed the team's overall performance.Sciver-Brunt's ninth ODI century, her fourth in her last nine innings, was a testament to her exceptional skill and mental fortitude. She negotiated the loss of openers and played second-fiddle to Danni Wyatt before taking the initiative in the final overs, smashing consecutive sixes off Diana Baig."I'm pretty happy with the level of skill, but the mental game of it as well," Sciver-Brunt said. "I managed to get through those tougher patches today and communicate well with my batting partner."Despite her self-proclaimed scratchiness, Sciver-Brunt's only clear-cut chance came on 86, when she was dropped by the wicketkeeper. Her ability to battle through adversity resonated with Heather Knight's pre-series assessment that England needed to improve their management of challenging moments in 50-over innings.Sciver-Brunt acknowledged the need for players to adapt between formats, with the 20-over World Cup looming and the 50-over version approaching in 2025. "At the end of the day, the skill is pretty much the same," she said. "It's just elongated, or you might use different things in your armoury at different times."

England's women's cricket team, led by captain Heather Knight, won the toss and elected to bat first in the third and final ODI against Pakistan at Chelmsford. The match marked a welcome change from the dismal weather that had plagued the previous two days of the series, with clear skies and only a slight chance of scattered showers.England made one change to their lineup, bringing in Lauren Bell to lead the attack in place of Lauren Filer. Pakistan, on the other hand, fielded the same XI that had narrowly lost the opening fixture in Derby.England's batting lineup got off to a solid start, with Maia Bouchier and Tammy Beaumont putting on a 50-run partnership for the first wicket. Beaumont continued to anchor the innings, scoring a well-paced 64 before being dismissed by Diana Baig.Nat Sciver-Brunt and Alice Capsey then combined for a 70-run partnership, with Sciver-Brunt scoring a fluent 50. Danni Wyatt and Amy Jones also made valuable contributions, helping England post a competitive total of 261/9 in their allotted 50 overs.Pakistan's chase got off to a shaky start, with Sidra Ameen and Sadaf Shamas falling cheaply. Muneeba Ali and Ayesha Zafar steadied the innings with a 50-run partnership, but England's bowlers kept the pressure on.Sciver-Brunt and Sophie Ecclestone were particularly impressive, taking three wickets each. Pakistan's middle order failed to capitalize on the platform set by Ali and Zafar, and they were eventually bowled out for 190 in the 45th over.England's victory secured a 2-1 series win over Pakistan, a result that will boost their confidence ahead of the upcoming Commonwealth Games.

England all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt has shed light on her absence from the first T20I against Pakistan, revealing that she underwent egg freezing to preserve her fertility for future family planning.Sciver-Brunt, 31, explained that she seized the opportunity between England's tour of New Zealand and the Pakistan series to undergo the procedure, which involves creating embryos for later use. She emphasized her desire to balance her cricket career with starting a family."Katherine and I would love to start a family, but I'd also like to continue playing cricket," Sciver-Brunt said. "We're lucky to have options, and we're figuring out the best path for us. I'd like to carry a baby when I finish playing, and Katherine wants to as well."England's support staff has been instrumental in facilitating Sciver-Brunt's recovery from the procedure. "The sports science and medical department have been incredibly supportive," she said. "They've ensured a smooth transition back to cricket."Sciver-Brunt missed the first T20I due to the physical toll of the procedure. "I'd just started exercising again, so I wasn't quite ready to play," she explained. However, she is expected to feature in the second match on Friday.Katherine Sciver-Brunt, who retired from cricket last year, highlighted the importance of egg freezing for women who wish to pursue both a career and family. "There's a timeframe on fertility," she said. "Freezing eggs now gives us healthy options in the future. It's a great choice to have, even though it's not cheap or easy."Sciver-Brunt's decision to prioritize her fertility while continuing her cricket career is a testament to the changing landscape for female athletes. It underscores the growing recognition of the need for flexibility and support for women who wish to balance their sporting and personal aspirations.