Despite collapsing from 137 for no loss to 171 all out—losing 9 wickets for just 31 runs in 25 balls—England pulled off a thrilling last-over win in the third T20 to keep the series alive.
But the team has suffered a major setback. England will be without captain Nat Sciver-Brunt for the final two matches of the T20I series against India. Tammy Beaumont will continue to lead the side in her absence.
Sciver-Brunt missed the third T20 at The Oval on Friday due to a groin injury. In her absence, Beaumont stepped up to captain England for the first time in her 247-match international career. Under her leadership, England edged out India by five runs to stay alive in the series after losing the first two matches.
In the third T20, England looked dominant at 137 without loss, but a sudden collapse saw them lose 9 wickets for just 31 runs in the final 25 balls, ending on 171. India, in reply, looked in control with an 85-run opening stand but ultimately fell short, finishing on 166. With six needed off the final ball, England pacer Lauren Bell dismissed Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur to seal a dramatic win.
A scan has confirmed that Sciver-Brunt will miss the remaining two T20s as well. However, the England and Wales Cricket Board is hopeful she will return in time for the three-match ODI series. In her place, top-order batter Maia Bouchier has been added to the squad for the final two T20Is.
Since being appointed captain in April, Sciver-Brunt led England in the first two matches of the series, which they lost by 97 and 24 runs. As part of workload management, she didn’t bowl in either game. She was England’s top scorer in the first match with 66 off 42 balls, even though the team was bowled out for 113. She made 13 in the second match, where she also sustained the injury. Sciver-Brunt was recently named the ICC Women’s Cricketer of the Year for 2024.
The remaining two T20Is will be played on Wednesday and Saturday in Manchester and Birmingham, respectively.
The ODI series will begin in Southampton on July 16.
