Katherine Brunt sets record as England clinch T20 series against South Africa

Katherine Brunt surpassed Anya Shrubsole and became England’s leading women’s Twenty20 international wicket-taker as the hosts beat South Africa by six wickets at New Road. The result means England clinch the three-match T20I series with a game to spare, having already wrapped up the multi-format contest.

Alice Capsey, filling in for the captain, Heather Knight, who was ruled out with a hip injury sustained in the last game, took her maiden wicket on her debut for her country. Anneke Bosch and Lara Goodall combined for an opening partnership of 102 as the tourists set a target of 149, which England comfortably chased down with an over to spare.

England had gone into the match with a 10-2 lead, having also won all three one-day internationals and the T20 opener at Essex after a draw in the standalone Test. Nat Sciver won the toss in place of Knight and elected to field first.

South Africa settled into a comfortable opening rhythm, the opening partnership of Bosch and Goodall combining for 25 runs in their first five overs. The pair had put on 98 before Capsey, who watched England win the World Cup in 2017 as a fan, was handed the ball for the 15th over.

Goodall pounced on the 17-year-old’s first delivery with a reverse-sweep through point for four to bring up the century partnership for the tourists. The debutant responded in style, taking her first wicket with the next ball when Goodall, on 42, sliced to Sciver at backward point for an easy catch. Bosch reached 61 before falling lbw to Sophie Ecclestone, who finished with two for 27.

Brunt’s first crack at the milestone came with her second delivery of the 19th over as South Africa looked to climb past 150. But Sciver dropped the catch at extra cover, recovering quickly