England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt says her team is ready for the challenge of facing six-time champions Australia in Sunday’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final after leading the hosts to a convincing 40-run win over South Africa in the second semi-final on Thursday.
Returning from injury, Sciver-Brunt played a match-winning knock of 75 off 47 balls and was named the Player of the Match. Her innings helped England post 169/5 before the bowlers produced another disciplined performance to seal victory and keep the hosts unbeaten in the tournament.
England will now face six-time champions Australia at Lord’s on Sunday, with the hosts aiming to win their first Women’s T20 World Cup title since lifting the inaugural trophy in 2009.
“I guess when you see a home World Cup in the diary, you always sort of imagine yourself there at the final and, with a chance to lift the trophy,” Sciver-Brunt said after the match.
“So yeah, I guess that drive has always been there. It’s obviously a great common goal to have as a team, to be able to try and reach a final of a home edition of a World Cup,” she added.
After England lost three early wickets, Sciver-Brunt and former captain Heather Knight steadied the innings with a crucial 133-run partnership that laid the foundation for a strong total.
With England now just one win away from the title, Sciver-Brunt said the team has been preparing for this moment for months.
“I guess it’s what we’ve been preparing for, and not only during this competition but in the months before that, throughout the sort of winter camps that we’ve had and everything to be able to perform on the bigger stage,” she said.
“I suppose we’ve set ourselves up with an amazing opportunity to be in a home World Cup final and you don’t get that many times in your career. I think we’ve got what it takes.”
Australia will head into the final with two extra days of rest after beating the West Indies in the first semi-final, but Sciver-Brunt is confident England will recover well and make the most of home support.
“As a group we take our recovery seriously and we’ll be doing everything that we can to, be fresh as fresh as we can for that match.
“We can’t really help the scheduling of, who plays in what semi-final, but the home crowd will certainly be there at Lord’s and I think that will hopefully give us some home advantage,” Sciver-Brunt said.
Sunday’s final will be the fourth Women’s T20 World Cup title clash between England and Australia, following previous meetings in 2012, 2014 and 2018. Australia are chasing a record-extending seventh title, while England are looking to end a 17-year wait for their second crown.