England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt was forced to retire hurt during her team’s four-wicket victory over Ireland in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup at Southampton on Sunday. Sciver-Brunt, who contributed 48 runs before leaving the field, withdrew as a precaution after sensing tightness in her left calf. The 33-year-old had only recently returned to international cricket following a calf tear in the same leg.

England’s innings had stumbled early, losing three wickets for 35 runs, but Sciver-Brunt anchored the recovery and helped guide the hosts toward a total of 199. She stepped away from the crease with 15 balls remaining, leaving her side nine runs short of their target. England eventually secured the win with wickets and overs to spare, positioning themselves strongly for a place in the semi-finals.

Reflecting on her withdrawal, Sciver-Brunt emphasized caution, stating that she did not want to exacerbate the injury by pushing through the discomfort. Her leadership and resilience were instrumental in steadying the England innings after a shaky start against an Irish side chasing a competitive target.

Meanwhile, in another notable result from the tournament, defending champions New Zealand suffered a setback as they were held to a five-wicket defeat by Sri Lanka. The Lions reached the target of 151 runs with two deliveries remaining, leaving New Zealand’s hopes of retaining the title in jeopardy. This outcome adds further complexity to the group standings as teams jockey for semifinal qualification.

The victories for England and Sri Lanka on Sunday have significant implications for the progressing stages of the tournament, with hosts England now in a commanding position and New Zealand facing mounting pressure to advance.