15 September,2023 10:24 AM IST | Leicester | mid-day online correspondent
England`s Nat Sciver-Brunt celebrates reaching her century, during the third Women`s One Day International match between England and Sri Lanka, at the Uptonsteel County Ground, in Leicester, England, Thursday. Pic/AP, PTI
England all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt slammed a breathtaking 120 off just 74 balls against Sri Lanka in the third and final ODI in a 31 overs-per-side rain-affected game here on Thursday.
Sciver-Brunt's brilliant knock and a 65-ball 95 by Maia Bouchier helped England Women reach a challenging 272/8 in 50 overs.
Sciver-Brunt, the No.1 ranked batter and all-rounder in the ICC Women's Player Rankings was in top form on Thursday as she unfurled some outrageous strokes on her way to a spectacular hundred in her 100th ODI.
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With the persistent rain, the toss had been delayed in Leicester, but when it relented, Sri Lanka put England in to bat and reduced them to 18/2 inside the first five overs.
Sciver-Brunt came together with Maia Bouchier and the duo raced off the blocks, taking the team to 72/2 in 10 overs despite the initial setback.
With the platform well set and a shortened innings on the cards, Sciver-Brunt and Bouchier pressed the accelerator further. Bouchier beat Sciver-Brunt to her half-century, taking just 38 balls for it.
Sciver-Brunt followed suit with a hat-trick of fours in the 15th over. The 193-run stand came off just 20 overs and was only broken when Bouchier was trapped in front by Kavisha Dilhari. By then, Sciver-Brunt had completed her century off 66 balls, making it the quickest ODI ton by an England women's player.
The wicket didn't deter the England all-rounder, though, and she smashed three fours in a row of the same over. She was dismissed next over for a brilliant 120 but had already done enough to give England a huge total.
(With agency inputs)