Women's T20 World Cup: England beat Ireland as Nat Sciver-Brunt retires mid-innings as 'precaution' over calf injury
Nat Sciver-Brunt retires out on 48 off 37 balls as England make it two wins from two with four-wicket victory over Ireland; England captain says move was "just precautionary" over lingering calf issue; watch the ICC Women's T20 World Cup exclusively live on Sky Sports
Wednesday 17 June 2026 00:12, UK
England made it two wins from two to start the Women's T20 World Cup but their four-wicket win over Ireland was overshadowed by an injury scare to Nat Sciver-Bunt, who retired herself out on 48 as she continues to manage a calf issue.
Chasing 119, England stumbled to 35-3 in the sixth over of their reply, before Sciver-Brunt's assured 48 from 37 balls had the hosts cruising to victory - until she retired two short of a half-century and nine away from their target.
The England captain, speaking after the match, said the move was "just precautionary", adding: "I felt a bit of tightness in my calf so I thought I better not push it."
- Scorecard: England vs Ireland, Women's T20 World Cup
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Sciver-Brunt only returned to the team last week after missing more than a month with a torn left calf. An ECB statement said "she is currently being assessed by England medics".
Vice-captain Charlie Dean said of Sciver-Brunt: "I think she just had a bit of tightness. It's a credit to Nat, and who she is, that as a precaution she took herself off to not do any further damage.
"I guess I'm on standby but hopefully I won't be needed."
England lost a sixth wicket four balls after Sciver-Brunt's retirement, with Freya Kemp (2) run out, before they finally squeaked home with 14 balls to spare following a somewhat curious batting display, edging closer to a semi-final spot in the process.
Ecclestone impresses after rain-delayed start
Earlier, once play got under way after more than an hour's rain delay in Southampton, Sophie Ecclestone starred with the ball, the left-arm spinner responding brilliantly to her opening over being tonked for 13 as she took 3-22 to restrict Ireland to 118-9.
Ecclestone's haul included the wicket of Rebecca Stokell (9) to a fine stumping from Amy Jones, while Dani Gibson (2-10) then bowled the dangerous Orla Prendergast (26 off 18) off her bottom edge to have Ireland 57-5 before the midpoint of their innings.
Charlie Dean (2-11) and Gibson each claimed a second scalp before Ecclestone took two more in the 19th over to have Ireland nine down just as they hit the 100 mark.
Some valuable lower-order hitting from Louise Little (26no off 15) added some respectability to the Ireland total as Lauren Bell (1-39), who had earlier dismissed captain Gaby Lewis for a first-ball duck, saw her final over smashed for 17 runs.
Ireland carried some of that momentum into their bowling display, with Aimee Maguire (2-23) accounting for both England openers - Amy Jones (9) and, centurion versus Sri Lanka, Danni Wyatt-Hodge (16) - in the space of three balls.
Prendergast (2-17) then bowled Capsey (5) in the next over to have England teetering a touch at 35-3 in the sixth until Sciver-Brunt and a handy 26 off 23 from Heather Knight helped the home side wrestle the match back in their favour.
They put on 64 for the fourth wicket until Knight fell lbw to Prendergast, after review, while Sciver-Brunt's late retirement not only denied herself the winning moment but will be cause for concern going forward in the tournament.
'No point for Sciver-Brunt to push calf injury'
Sky Sports Cricket's Tash Farrant:
"It's a niggly one when you get a little tear in your calf like she [Sciver-Brunt] had.
"I think she's switched on enough to know that there is no point in that situation to push it in any way.
"We hope and we pray that her calf isn't too bad. She looked a little bit down in the dumps, but maybe that's just because she didn't get her fifty - although I'm sure she's not worried about those accolades.
"Fair play to Nat, if it is precautionary, to realise at the time, take herself off and let the rest of the girls see the team home."
England's Women's T20 World Cup fixtures/results
All games live on Sky Sports, all times UK and Ireland
- Friday June 12 (Edgbaston): England beat Sri Lanka by 87 runs
- Tuesday June 16 (Hampshire Bowl): England beat Ireland by four wickets
- Saturday June 20: England vs Scotland, Headingley 6.30pm
- Wednesday June 24: England vs West Indies, Lord's 6.30pm
- Saturday June 27: England vs New Zealand, The Oval 6.30pm
Sri Lanka stun holders New Zealand
Earlier on Tuesday, Sri Lanka beat New Zealand for the first time in a World Cup after Nilakshika Silva and Kaushini Nuthyangana combined to see them to their 151-run target with two balls remaining in a thrilling clash at the Hampshire Bowl.
It means New Zealand have lost both of their first two Group B matches. Only one team in tournament history has advanced to the semi-finals with two defeats - South Africa at home in 2023.
New Zealand were plagued again by dropped catches; six in their opening loss to the West Indies and three more against Sri Lanka, two of them key.
Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu was put down on 6 and made 27 to start their charge in the powerplay, while Silva was dropped on 1 and when on to make 54 not out.
An unchanged New Zealand from the West Indies loss on Saturday chose to bat first on the same pitch but only captain Melie Kerr and Sophie Devine got going with a pair of 45s.
When Kavisha Dilhara ran herself out at 105-5 in the 15th, Sri Lanka appeared to be on the ropes. But Silva's second T20I fifty in 13 years and Nuthyangana's career-best 24 took Sri Lanka to victory.
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