'We really wanted to do is run well between the wickets' - Nat Sciver-Brunt after crucial victory over South Africa

In a Group B encounter of the ongoing ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 in Sharjah, England Women secured a crucial win against South Africa Women. The main reason for England's win was a partnership between Nat Sciver-Brunt and Danielle Wyatt-Hodge. Sciver-Brunt opened up about the importance of the running between the wickets as a key factor in England's success.

Chasing a target of 125, England faced early setbacks, managing only 28 runs for the loss of one wicket in the powerplay. With the score standing at 55/2, the partnership between Sciver-Brunt and Wyatt-Hodge turned the game in England's favor. Stitching a 64-run stand, Hodge (43) and Brunt (48*) helped the team to secure a seven-wicket victory with four balls to spare. 

"When I came to the middle, obviously we were a little bit behind the rate but I knew that if me and Danni stayed together and put a partnership together, it ran really well. I think that from the first game that's something we really wanted to do is run really well between the wickets, knowing that boundaries are quite hard to hit on that wicket, and the importance of running 2's, and then manoeuvring fielders out of the way so that you can get into a gap a bit easier, that was the plan," Sciver-Brunt said in the post-match press conference.

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She has been very frustrated for both of the innings: Nat Sciver-Brunt

Sciver-Brunt praised Wyatt-Hodge for adapting to different conditions and helping in the team's success. Brunt revealed that her teammate is frustrated as she is known to play fast-paced innings but has to control her innings looking at the situation.

"It's funny because she's been very frustrated for both of the innings and she's probably used to being like 70 off of 40 - but the innings that she's playing for us are so important and yeah just being able to hit it in areas that only she can really, probably makes it quite difficult to bowl at even in these conditions. So yeah, hopefully, she can continue doing that and not get too frustrated," she added.

England's spinners, particularly Sophie Ecclestone, played a vital role in restricting South Africa's innings. Ecclestone's figures of 2/15 in four overs were instrumental in limiting the opposition to a chaseable total. Sciver-Brunt acknowledged Ecclestone's ability to bowl effectively at any stage of the innings.