England’s batting powerhouse Nat Sciver-Brunt continued her remarkable run of form against Sri Lanka, creating history by becoming the first woman to score ten One Day International (ODI) centuries while batting at No. 4 or lower in the order. Her milestone came in style, with a masterful 117 off 117 balls against Sri Lanka in the Women’s ODI World Cup, a knock laced with 11 crisp boundaries, demonstrating both her patience and power.
Sciver-Brunt’s innings was a textbook example of middle-order mastery. Coming in at a challenging juncture, she stabilized the innings, rotating the strike and punishing loose deliveries. Her 117-run effort was marked by timing, precision, and calculated aggression, underlining why she is regarded as one of the most versatile batters in women’s cricket today.
This century not only added another landmark to her illustrious career but also elevated her above other elite batters in ODI history when batting in the middle order.
Most centuries batting at 4 or lower:
- Nat Sciver-Brunt – 10 centuries (107 innings)
- Harmanpreet Kaur – 7 centuries (134 innings)
- Sophie Devine – 4 centuries (100 innings)
- Marizanne Kapp – 4 centuries (131 innings)
By achieving this record, Sciver-Brunt has showcased the rare combination of consistency, adaptability, and finishing ability, traits that make her a match-winner for England time and again.
Sciver-Brunt’s innings was pivotal as England looked to assert dominance against Sri Lanka. The 11 boundaries she struck punctuated her intent to take control of the game without compromising her technique. Her knock allowed England to build a formidable total of 253, putting immense pressure on the opposition bowlers and giving her team a psychological edge.
Beyond the numbers, Sciver-Brunt’s performance serves as a masterclass for middle-order batters, balancing patience with aggression, pacing an innings, and anchoring a team when early wickets fall. For a team competing at the highest level, such innings can be the difference between a competitive total and a commanding one.
Nat Sciver-Brunt reached another milestone with her 10th ODI century—her 5th in World Cup matches—placing her at the top of the charts for the most centuries in Women’s ODI World Cups. She also became the fastest to reach this milestone in terms of innings, surpassing Charlotte Edwards.
(Stats credits: Hypocaust)
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