England secure top place with crushing win over Pakistan

England made a record total and crushed Pakistan by 114 runs to secure the top place in their Women’s T20 World Cup group at Newlands in Cape Town on Tuesday.

Danni Wyatt and Nat Sciver-Brunt hit half-centuries and Amy Jones made 47 as England powered their way to 213 for five. Katherine Sciver-Brunt then opened the bowling for England and took two for 14 from her four overs as Pakistan were restricted to 99 for nine in reply.

England finished first in Group Two with four wins from four matches and will meet the second-placed team from Group B in the semi-finals on Friday.

Opening batter Wyatt made 59 off 33 balls, with seven fours and two sixes. The 31-year-old from Staffordshire had made only 27 runs in England’s first three matches but showed her intent from the first over when she hit left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal for four and six off successive balls.

Sciver-Brunt, one of the outstanding players of the group stages, hit 12 fours and a six as she rattled along to 81 not out off 40 balls, her second successive half-century. Jones hit 47 off 31 balls before being caught in the deep off the last ball of the innings.

The previous highest total in a Women’s T20 World Cup match was 195 for three by South Africa against Thailand in Canberra in 2020. Katherine Sciver-Brunt had Sadaf Shamas caught behind off the second ball of Pakistan’s reply and Pakistan collapsed to 54 for seven before Tuba Hassan, batting at number nine, made a spirited 28 off 20 balls. Pakistan were captained by Nida Dar in the absence of Bismah Maroof, who had a groin injury.

Brief scores:

England 213-5 in 20 overs (D. Wyatt 59, N. Sciver-Brunt 81 not out, A. Jones 47; Fatima Sana 2-44)

Pakistan 99-9 (K. Sciver-Brunt 2-14, C. Dean 2-28)

Result: England won by 114 runs