‘It’s a great way to finish the series’ – Nat Sciver-Brunt elated after dominating performance against Pakistan Women in third ODI

Nat Sciver-Brunt. (Photo Source: England Cricket)

Coming into the third ODI of the series against Pakistan Women, English all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt had scores of 12, 2, 27, and 31 with the bat, and considerably better past performances with the ball in her previous ODI outings.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, England Women saw their momentum dull down as Pakistan picked up two wickets in 11 overs. Out came Sciver-Brunt, and 39 overs later when the English innings ended at 302/5, she ended up with a scintillating ninth ODI century, hoarding 124* off 117, a knock that included 14 fours and two maximums.

Not just that, she made a notable impact with the ball as well, returning miserly figures of 5-1-11-2, including the scalp of Pakistan’s Muneeba Ali. She was eventually awarded with the Player of the Match award, after her all-round endeavours handed her side a comprehensive 178-run victory.

During the post-match presentation, Sciver-Brunt, who left the field with a slight niggle in the hamstring, stated that she enjoyed her time out on the field. She also admitted that she was feeling a bit sore, and the five overs were probably not her quickest in terms of pace. Yet, she stressed her accuracy in landing the ball in the desired areas as a source of contentment.

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“I had a great time, and it’s a great way to finish the series. The body is pretty sore! It’s probably not my quickest five overs ever, but I was happy to bowl in a consistent area,” remarked Sciver-Brunt during the post-match presentation.

I’m pretty happy with the level of skill, but the mental game of it as well: Sciver-Brunt

Delving deeper into her performance with the bat, particularly her adeptness during rebuilding phases of the game, she expressed satisfaction with her multifaceted approach. According to Sciver-Brunt, not only did she handle the game skillfully, but also navigated it adeptly at a psychological level.

Furthermore, she noted a sense of comfort in adopting a backfoot approach during her innings, highlighting her efforts in field manipulation through innovative shots like paddles and sweeps. By cleverly redirecting fielders and creating vacancies, she shared she capitalized on opportunities to play strokes that aligned more naturally and instinctively with her batting style.

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