Sciver-Brunt, 37, has almost 19 years’ experience at international level, but has had a poor start to her last World Cup. That was most stark when her three error-strewn overs were pummelled for 39 by India, raising questions about her place in the side. Sciver-Brunt is a better batter than Davies or Cross but that advantage is diminishing, both because her own powers are waning in that department and because of the hitting of the likes of Sophie Ecclestone and Charlie Dean.
England would be loathe to go into a semi-final without a player of Sciver-Brunt’s experience so, rather than rest the veteran, gave her one more game to prove her worth, directly opposite a rival. She did just that.
Now, a weakened Pakistan are not a side of the class England will face in the knockouts. And it is always easier bowling with 213 on the board. But Sciver-Brunt bowled two excellent overs in the powerplay, leaking just three singles, and striking second ball, with Sadaf Shamas caught behind.
By the time she returned in the middle overs, England’s spinners had put the squeeze on, as has become their trademark on tired pitches in this tournament, and the game was effectively won. While she bowled a couple of wides, she picked up a second wicket, with Aliya Riaz skying straight up in the air. She finished with two for 14 from her four overs; not perfect, but better.
Did Davies do enough to top that? No. She started nervously, with a wide, a back-foot no-ball, then a cover-driven boundary, but did settle. In her final over, which was expensive, she and Katherine Sciver-Brunt (who continued a fine tournament in the field) contrived to run out Tuba Hassan in farcical fashion, with the batter believing the ball had gone for four.
Knight seemed satisfied that England knew their XI for Friday and her comments suggested Katherine Sciver-Brunt is in it.
