Have you heard the one about the England all-rounder with the troublesome knee? “Which one?” would be an understandable response following 24 hours that have seen first Ben Stokes smoke the highest one-day international score by an Englishman, and then Nat Sciver-Brunt – who, like Stokes, has required patching up this summer – put on an exhibition equal in both beauty and notoriety for England’s women.
A leg-side single saw captain-for-the-day Sciver-Brunt mark her 100th one-day international appearance at a run-a-cap. It was her third white-ball century of the summer, and the celebration was typically understated. Even had Sciver-Brunt been aware her 66-ball effort had comfortably surpassed Charlotte Edwards’s previous fastest ODI hundred by an Englishwoman, the reaction would not have differed. Sciver-Brunt is as calm as they come.
“It was good to switch the voodoo around,” she said afterwards, having being named both England’s player of the match and the summer. “Usually, commemorative cap games aren’t so good for that player, so I’m really happy to bat the way I did!”
“She’s the best player in the world,” said head coach Jon Lewis of Sciver-Brunt. “The authority she brings to what she does, the clinical way she goes about what she does, and the way she communicates with her partner – that’s the value of having someone of that seniority in the side.”
Ultimately, England achieved victory in the match – by 161-runs – and the series – 2-0 – at a canter. But at 18 for two when Sciver-Brunt strode out, her side, although not quite in the hole, had begun digging. And so she began watchfully. From her first 11 balls, just nine runs came.
But suddenly four deliveries from six disappeared to the boundary, the highlight an elegant waltz down the ground to plonk a straight six off of Inoka Ranaweera. From there, Sciver-Brunt was in. From there, it was all class and timing. The tempo was immaculate, and there was even a little toying with Sri Lanka – at one point, with the field set to prevent leg-side runs, back-to-back balls were struck precisely where an orthodox long-on would have been.
Such was her acceleration, Sciver-Brunt could have, from 80 onwards, still surpassed Edwards’s 70-ball knock with just singles. In all, she made a glorious 120. Proof, as if it were needed, that for all the promise of youth, it must be blended with experience.
Sciver-Brunt shared a 193-run, 121-ball, third-wicket partnership with Maia Bouchier. That Bouchier ends with only the ‘best supporting batter’ award feels a tad unfair. Her runs – 95 of them – were equally easy on the eye. In 2020, Bouchier had asserted her wish to be the “next Nat Sciver-Brunt”. And here she was, three summers later, engaged in a bat-race with her idol. Indeed, Sciver-Brunt’s record might have lasted mere minutes had Bouchier not missed her 65th ball and fallen leg-before.
Some felt a rain-reduced game suited Sri Lanka, surprise victors in the preceding T20I series that Sciver-Brunt was rested for. Wishful thinking. England’s 273 for eight in 31 overs was never getting chased. As darkness descended, Sciver-Brunt watched on as Charlie Dean (five for 31) twirled her way to a maiden international five-fer, Lauren Filer picked up three for 30, and Sri Lanka mustered just 112.
“I’m looking forward to picking up the ball again,” Sciver-Brunt added, confirming she would have ball in hand again over the winter. “When I’m playing, I want to influence every part of the game as much as I can. That’s the best part of being an all-rounder. Fielding and not being able to influence with the ball was a little bit frustrating but I was happy to give the body a break.”
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