England Beat Ireland In Women’s T20 World Cup As Nat Sciver-Brunt Retires Hurt

England beat Ireland by four wickets in the Women’s T20 World Cup at Southampton, chasing 119 after slipping to 35 for three, with Nat Sciver-Brunt top-scoring with 48 before retiring hurt with nine runs still needed.

“Women's T20 World Cup, Group 2, Southampton Ireland 118-9 (20 overs): Prendergast 26 (18), Little 26* (15); Ecclestone 3-22, Dean 2-11, Gibson 2-10 England 119-6 (17”

BBC

Sciver-Brunt said her decision was “Just precautionary,” after feeling “tightness in my calf” and refusing to push it, and the BBC reported she would have a scan in the coming days.

BBC

The BBC also said Sciver-Brunt retired on 48 with tightness in her left calf, the same muscle that ruled her out for six weeks before the tournament.

Ireland finished on 118 for nine, with Orla Prendergast making the breakthrough by bowling Alice Capsey and Gaby Lewis later saying she was “very proud of the girls.”

Sophie Ecclestone took three for 22 and Charlie Dean took two for 11 as England completed the chase with 15 balls to spare, keeping their World Cup campaign on track.

After the match, Katherine Sciver-Brunt told BBC Test Match Special that “Nat hasn't been crying and that's a good sign,” adding that “it’s not that bad” from what she was seeing.

Heather Knight, speaking after England’s wobble, said “We’re really hopeful she’ll be fine but one thing we have shown over the last couple of series is we’ve been able to do things really well without Nat.”

Oxford Mail

The Guardian described England’s recovery from 35 for three to chase down 119 with 15 balls remaining, while also saying England would be “sweating on the fitness of their captain Nat Sciver-Brunt.”

Sky Sports quoted Charlie Dean saying Sciver-Brunt’s exit was “a precaution” to avoid “any further damage,” and said Dean was “on standby” if needed.

The Independent framed Sciver-Brunt’s retirement as “just precautionary” and noted England had only four days before their next match against Scotland at Headingley.

England’s next match is against Scotland at Headingley on Saturday, with the BBC saying Sciver-Brunt had only four days before that game and would be assessed by medics.

“Arabic version:إنجلترا تهزم أيرلندا رغم إصابة القائدة سيفر-برونت England secured a four-wicket victory over Ireland in the Women’s T20 World Cup held in Southampton, but the match was marred by a significant injury concern for captain Nat Sciver-Brunt”

Oz Arab Media

Sky Sports said Sciver-Brunt only returned to the team last week after missing more than a month with a torn left calf, and it quoted an ECB statement that “she is currently being assessed by England medics”.

The Guardian reported that the winner of Thursday’s match between Scotland and West Indies will be in pole position to progress to the knockout stages alongside leaders England, with Group B “wide open” after the result.

SuperSport said England moved on to four points in group B with the win over Ireland, putting them “in pole position to reach the semifinals,” even as the injury threatened Sciver-Brunt’s availability.

Ireland, who have lost two from two, stay in Southampton to play winless New Zealand on Friday, with the BBC noting their tournament position alongside England’s and Scotland’s path to the knockout stages.