Sciver-Brunt, Kemp knock back pressure to revive England

Nat Sciver-Brunt anchored the innings and Freya Kemp played her shots as they guided England Women to 150/4 in their ICC Women's T20 World Cup final match against Australia Women at Lord's on Sunday. Australia needs 151 runs to win.

The toss went Australia's way, and their captain, Sophie Molineux, elected to bowl first. Nat Sciver-Brunt, the England captain, responded to the challenge with an unbeaten 53-ball 58. This is her second in back-to-back outings. She faced 45 deliveries to reach the milestone. She shared a 80-run innings defining partnership with Freya Kemp.

The left-hander played her shots as she raced to an unbeaten 44 from 28 balls. She struck four fours and a single six as she pushed the hosts from a middling total to a competitive one. The pair got together in the 11th over and shepherded the hosts to the end.

Sciver-Brunt, who began her innings with a boundary, quickly realised that this was not a free-scoring surface and adjusted to its requirements. The England captain, who scored at less than a run-a-ball for most of her innings, found impetus at the death.

England advanced in fits and starts. The hosts had bursts of momentum, to which Australia responded with well-directed deliveries. Amy Jones was setting herself up for a long innings when Lucy Hamilton enticed her into a stroke that went straight to Georgia Voll at backward point.

Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who had absorbed the pressure for most of the powerplay, fell to a legside strangle from Annabel Sutherland. The pacer, who took the fifth over, conceded 11 runs in her first four deliveries before she redeemed herself by dismissing Wyatt-Hodge.

Sciver-Brunt did a decent rebuilding and consolidation job with Alice Capsey. Together, they cobbled a 35-run partnership in 29 deliveries. Molineux dismantled that partnership with a fantastic ball that broke through Capsey's defences. And England had to rebuild again.

Kim Garth was the most successful Australian bowler with a single wicket for 20 runs in four overs. Lucy Hamilton, Sophie Molineux, and Annabel Sutherland also claimed a wicket each, but had higher run rates. Ashleigh Gardner had the worst outing with the ball. She conceded 32 runs in three overs.

ENGLAND: Amy Jones (wk), Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Nat Sciver-Brunt (capt), Alice Capsey, Heather Knight, Freya Kemp, Dani Gibson, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell.

AUSTRALIA: Georgia Voll, Beth Mooney (wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Nicola Carey, Sophie Molineux (capt), Kim Garth, Lucy Hamilton.