England suffered an agonising defeat to Australia in their Women’s World Cup opener as they lost by 12 runs in Hamilton, despite a hugely impressive century from Nat Sciver.
Australia posted a score of 310 for the loss of just three wickets after being sent in to bat, with opener Rachael Haynes firing 130 from 131 balls and captain Meg Lanning chipping in with 86.
England’s response saw Lauren Winfield-Hill fall for a duck after four balls before Tammy Beaumont led the charge with 74 – passing 3,000 ODI runs in the process – until she was stumped by Alyssa Healy off the bowling of Alana King.
Sciver took the game deep with a magnificent, unbeaten 109 from 85 balls; England needed 16 from the final over to win but fell 12 short as Katherine Brunt (25) and Sophie Ecclestone (1) were both dismissed, with Sciver starved of the strike.
It was a sensational final six deliveries from Jess Jonassen, who caught and bowled Brunt with a superb one-handed grab. Leg-spinner King, meanwhile, was mightily impressive for Australia, taking 3-59 from her 10 overs, paying tribute to the late, great Shane Warne by patting her black armband in her celebration of the wicket of Beaumont.
