Women’s T20 World Cup: England beat Ireland as Nat Syver-Brant retires mid-innings as a ‘precaution’ with calf injury | cricket news

England made it two wins from two to open the Women’s T20 World Cup but their four-wicket victory over Ireland was overshadowed by an injury scare for Nat Syver-Bunt, who retired on 48 as she manages a calf problem.

Chasing 119, England stumbled to 35-3 in the sixth over of their reply, before Sciver-Brunt’s 37-ball 48 assured the hosts victory – until he retired two fifties and nine short of their target.

The England captain said after the match that the move was “just a precaution”, adding: “I felt a bit of tightness in my calf so I thought it was best not to push it.”

Syver-Brant only returned to the team last week after missing more than a month with a torn left calf. “He is currently being assessed by doctors in England,” an ECB statement said.

Vice-captain Charlie Dean said of Syver-Brant: “I think he was just a bit tight. It’s a credit to Nat, and who he is, that he took himself off as a precaution so there was no further damage.

“I guess I’m on standby but hopefully I won’t be needed.”

England lost the sixth wicket in four balls after the retirement of Sciver-Brunt, before Freya Kemp (2) was run out, after a somewhat curious display of batting to eventually move closer to the semi-final with 14 balls to spare.

Ecclestone impressed after rain-delayed start

Earlier, once play resumed after a rain delay of more than an hour in Southampton, Sophie Ecclestone starred with the ball, the left-arm spinner taking 3-22 from Tonk’s 13 runs in her opening over as she took 3-22 to restrict Ireland to 118-9.

Ecclestone’s collection included Rebecca Stoeckel’s (9) brilliant stumping off the wicket of Amy Jones, while Danny Gibson (2-10) then bowled the dangerous Orla Prendergast (26 from 18 balls) at her lower end to make Ireland 57-5 before midway through their innings.

Ecclestone added two more in the 19th over before Charlie Dean (2-11) and Gibson each claimed a second scalp to put Ireland down for nine as they reached 100.

Some valuable lower-order hitting from Lewis Little (26 off 15) added some respectability to Ireland’s total as Lauren Bell (1-39), who had earlier dismissed skipper Gabby Lewis for a first-ball wicket, saw his last over crumble for 17 runs.

Ireland carried some of that momentum into their bowling display, with Amy Maguire (2-23) taking out both England openers – Amy Jones (9) and Centurion vs Sri Lanka, Danny Watt-Hodge (16) – in the space of three balls.

Prendergast (2-17) then bowled Capsick (5) in the next over to take England to 35-3 in the sixth over before a 23-ball 26 from Sciver-Brant and Heather Knight helped the home side turn the match in their favour.

They made 64 for the fourth wicket until Knight was lbw to Prendergast after a review, while Syver-Brant’s late retirement not only denied himself a moment of victory but will be a cause for concern going into the tournament.

‘There’s no sense in pushing for Cyver-Brant’s calf injury’

Sky Sports Cricket Tash Farrant:

“It’s a bummer when you tear something as small as your calf (Syver-brant).

“I think he’s switched on enough to know that there’s no point in pushing it in this situation.

“We hope and we pray that his calf isn’t too bad. He looked a bit down in the dirt, but maybe that’s just because he hasn’t got his fifty – although I’m sure he’s not worried about the compliments.

“Fair play to Nat, if it’s prudent to realize at that point, take yourself off and let the rest of the girls watch the team at home.”

England Women’s T20 World Cup Fixtures/Results

All games live on Sky Sports, all times UK and Ireland

• Friday 12 June (Edgbaston): England defeated Sri Lanka by 87 runs
• Tuesday 16 June (Hampshire Bowl): England beat Ireland by four wickets
• Saturday 20 June: England v Scotland, 6.30pm at Headingley
• Wednesday 24 June: England v West Indies, Lord’s 6.30 pm
• Saturday 27 June: England v New Zealand, 6.30pm at The Oval

Sri Lanka stunned New Zealand

Earlier Tuesday, Sri Lanka the beat New Zealand In a World Cup for the first time since Nilakshika Silva and Kaushini Nuthiangana combined for their 151-run target with two balls to spare in a thrilling encounter at the Hampshire Bowl.

This means New Zealand have lost their first two Group B matches. Only one team in the history of the tournament has reached the semi-finals with two defeats – South Africa at home in 2023.

New Zealand again dropped the plagued catch; Six in the first loss to the West Indies and three more against Sri Lanka, two of which were crucial.

Sri Lankan skipper Chamari Athapathu was dropped for 6 and made 27 to start their charge in the powerplay, while Silva dropped for 1 while scoring an unbeaten 54.

New Zealand, unchanged from Saturday’s loss to the West Indies, opted to bat first on the same pitch but could only get through with a 45-second partnership from captain Mellie Kerr and Sophie Devine.

When Kabisha Dilhara got himself out at 105-5 in the 15th over, Sri Lanka looked on the ropes. But Silver’s second Twenty20 fifty in 13 years and Nuthiangana’s career-best 24 led Sri Lanka to victory.

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Watch every ball of the Women’s T20 World Cup live exclusively on Sky Sports and now Final at Lord’s on July 5.