England locked horns against South Africa in their ongoing multi-format series during the 2nd T20I on 23 July which saw England seal the T20I series 2-0 with a game to go. In the process, Katherine Brunt surpassed her good mate in Anya Shrubsole to become England’s highest wicket-taker in the shortest T20I format across both men’s and women’s cricket.
Long stuck on 98, Katherine Brunt edged past the 100 T20I wickets milestone in the opening T20I claiming 4 wickets and raising the tally to 102. The second T20I saw Katherine Brunt clean bowl Laura Wolvaardt on 21 to go past Anya Shrubsole and become England’s leading wicket-taker across both men’s and women’s cricket in the T20I format. Katherine Brunt recently retired from Test match cricket to focus on white-ball cricket and with 5 wickets in 2 games for a start, no one is complaining.
The fiery 37-year-old, Katherine Brunt now with 103 wickets to her name in 97 innings moves into the top 5 wicket takers in T20I’s. Brunt has reached the feat with an economy of 5.52 and best figures of 4/15. Anya Shrubsole aged 30 recently retired from all forms of international cricket with a total of 102 wickets in 79 innings with an economy of 5.95 and best figures of 5/13. The men’s list has Chris Jordan top the charts for England with 88 wickets in 77 innings with best figures of 4/6 and economy of 8.59.
1⃣0⃣3⃣ Wickets
Most by an English bowler in Women’s T20Is
Katherine Brunt surpasses Anya Shrubsole (102 wickets)🙌😍#CricketTwitter #ENGvSA pic.twitter.com/gLxAmgXB9j
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) July 23, 2022
Katherine Brunt is England’s leading wicket-taker in the other white-ball format, the ODI format as well with 170 to her name in 139 innings. She’s made it to the top 5 of that list as well as being the highest wicket-taker in women’s ODI. She’s been bowling with an economy of 3.57 and has picked up 5 fifers and 3 four-fer.
The next big assignment on and for England like many other nations is that of the upcoming Commonwealth Games and with Katherine Brunt leading the English pace attack with such a strong fight and fire, it’s a very big positive for England. England in group B plays Sri Lanka on 30th July, South Africa on 2nd August and their league stage game against New Zealand on 4th August. Teams have got to be in the top 2 of their groups to qualify ahead for the medal matches and for England to have a successful campaign Katherine Brunt will remain a key as to how she starts and finishes for the side on all outings.