In Colombo, Nat Sciver-Brunt produced a commanding performance to anchor England’s innings in their ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 clash against Sri Lanka. Coming in early at 49/2 after England lost quick wickets, she displayed remarkable composure and authority, crafting a well-paced 117 off 117 balls. Her knock was the defining feature of England’s total of 253 for 9, built around partnerships that held the innings together whenever pressure mounted.
Sciver-Brunt began steadily, rotating the strike and waiting for loose deliveries. She shared a 60-run stand with Heather Knight and added useful runs with the middle order to guide England through testing spells. Her timing and placement stood out, with nine boundaries and two clean sixes reflecting a mix of control and aggression.
England’s innings, meanwhile, was a blend of promising starts and missed opportunities. Tammy Beaumont’s brisk 32 off 29 and Heather Knight’s 29 off 47 provided momentum in patches, but regular wickets prevented them from capitalizing fully. Sri Lanka’s bowlers, particularly Inoka Ranaweera with her figures of 3 for 33, kept chipping away at intervals. Yet, Sciver-Brunt’s calm presence ensured England reached a competitive total, despite the lower order faltering towards the end.
The highlight of the day came in the 49th over when Sciver-Brunt lofted Sugandika Kumari over extra cover for six to reach her century — her fifth in Women’s World Cups, the most by any player. After acknowledging the crowd, she removed her helmet and cradled it close, dedicating the milestone to her son Theo, with wife Kathrine also in attendance. It was a simple yet meaningful celebration — quiet, emotional, and deeply personal.
Notably, this marked her 10th ODI century — the second-most by an English batter, behind only Tammy Beaumont’s 12, and her 5th at ODI World Cup — the most for any player and also is the fastest by innings (19), surpassing Charlotte Edwards to the feat. Sciver-Brunt’s knock wasn’t just the cornerstone of England’s total; it was yet another testament to her remarkable consistency and composure under pressure.
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