Heather Knight says England targeting more records after smashing highest T20I score
"As a side we want to keep pushing women's cricket forward and trying to break records. That's what this team is about."
Wednesday 20 June 2018 22:24, UK
Heather Knight says England will target more records after racking up the highest Women's T20I score of 250-3 against South Africa at Taunton.
England breezed past the 216-1 New Zealand had set against the Proteas earlier in the day in the tri-series double-header as they recorded a 121-run victory, the biggest winning margin in women's T20Is.
Knight's side's total was underpinned by an opening stand of 147 between Tammy Beaumont (116 off 52) and Danni Wyatt (56), before the hosts limited South Africa to 129-6 in reply at Somerset's ground.
"We weren't thinking about New Zealand's score but once we got past 150 we were thinking 'we could break this'," Knight, whose team will now meet South Africa and New Zealand on Saturday, told Sky Sports.
"Our coach [Mark Robinson] said don't think about what the Kiwis just did - maybe that was a smart trick - but as a side we want to keep pushing women's cricket forward and trying to break records.
"That's what this team is about, it's what we've done and I am really proud of the way we have gone about it. The batting will get the headlines but the bowling has been really good.
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"We want to bowl better on flat pitches so to finish the job and put in that well-rounded a performance is very good. It was pretty close to a perfect day for us."
Beaumont has now scored three international tons in a row following back-to-back centuries at Hove and Canterbury last week as England beat South Africa 2-1 in the ODI series.
"Tammy has been in brilliant form and for her and Danni to have that freedom at the top of the order has been great for them," added Knight.
"I think Tammy has got better technically and you have seen a few different hundreds from her. Her last hundred was a little bit scrappy at the start and she had to fight through that, whereas today it was pure striking."
South Africa shipped 466 runs in 40 overs on a chastening day and captain Dane van Niekerk was blunt in her appraisal of the performances.
"We got a proper hiding from both teams," said Van Niekerk, who confirmed that she told team-mate Marizanne Kapp to leave the field after she suffered from heart palpitations.
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"Our bowling is an area of concern - we are all over the place at the moment. We are bowling too many different lines and lengths so hopefully we can turn it around in the next few games.
"We spoke about what we wanted to do but we did the complete opposite. It is frustrating if we have a plan and cannot stick to it. That's something as a unit we need to sort out.
"Two games in a day is pretty draining physically and mentally, especially if you are getting hit all over the park. That's what we were asked to do and we need to do it to the best our ability.
"We can't complain at two games in a day and our performances made both games a lot harder."
Watch England's double-header against South Africa and New Zealand live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Mix from 12.30pm on Saturday.
