Sciver-Brunt plays down injury scare but England captain set for scan

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 (17.3 overs): Sciver-Brunt 48 (38); Prendergast 2-17

England won by four wickets

Scorecard. Tables.

Nat Sciver-Brunt played down the seriousness but England’s captain handed her side a major injury concern in their four-wicket victory over Ireland at the T20 World Cup in Southampton.

With nine runs needed to win, Sciver-Brunt retired on 48 with tightness in her left calf – the same muscle that ruled her out for six weeks before the tournament.

She later said the decision was “just precautionary”, but England have only four days before their next match against Scotland on Saturday. She will have a scan in the coming days.

“[I] felt a bit of tightness in my calf and didn’t want to push it,” the 33-year-old said.

After Sciver-Brunt left the field, England also lost Freya Kemp for two before edging home in pursuit of 119 with 15 balls to spare.

And, while the hosts now have two wins from two at begin their home World Cup, they now have a significant worry about the fitness of their captain.

Ireland, who have lost two from two, stay in Southampton to play winless New Zealand on Friday.

Speaking immediately after the match, Sciver-Brunt’s wife and former England international, Katherine, told BBC Test Match Special: “Nat hasn’t been crying and that’s a good sign.

“You know when you’ve done something bad.

“She’s not that easy to read, but from what I’m seeing, it’s not that bad.”

Sciver-Brunt had previously appeared untroubled in putting on 64 with Heather Knight after Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Amy Jones and Alice Capsey fell in the space of 10 balls to leave England 35-3.

There were no signs of any issue until she walked off, having just hit a four to square leg, and despite her words in the aftermath that she walked off two runs away from a fifty, with her side two hits from victory, is obviously a concern.

Her calf first became an issue when she suffered what was described as a “minor” calf tear playing a domestic match on 29 April. She would later be ruled out of white-ball series against New Zealand and India.

With Charlie Dean standing in as captain, England won both T20 series but Sciver-Brunt remains their best batter and most important player. Dean had not captained her country before at the start of May.

“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,” Knight said.

England’s late wobble, in which Kemp was run out for two, comes with the caveat of the confusion caused by Sciver-Brunt’s retirement.

Earlier, faced with a low total, Wyatt-Hodge and Jones continued to attack but chipped catches to the ring for 16 and nine respectively. Capsey was bowled by a fine yorker by Orla Prendergast for five.

Afterwards, Sciver-Brunt and Knight’s composed partnership steered England to the brink of victory, until Knight was pinned lbw by Prendergast for 26.

The only England player who had a real off day was seamer Lauren Bell. She conceded a boundary with the first delivery of Ireland’s innings and was hit for four fours by Louise Little in a final over that cost 17 and boosted Ireland’s score.

In between, Ireland were unable to counter as England mixed spin with seam through the middle. Sophie Ecclestone took three wickets and Dani Gibson and Dean two apiece, as England dominated much of Ireland’s innings of 118-9.

Dean bowled accurately and found turn to induce false shots with 36% of her deliveries.

Ecclestone mixed her pace to have Rebecca Stokell stumped with a quicker ball and Arlene Kelly and Cara Murray gave looping catches and Gibson, who took 2-10 in two overs, had Ireland’s Prendergast bowled via an inside edge for 25.

Ireland, who limped on from 57-5, have now lost 19 T20 World Cup matches from 19, but this performance was more encouraging than Saturday’s defeat by Scotland.

They were good with the ball, but did not have enough runs to defend.