Tweak in game plan proves pivotal for Nat Sciver in starring role

NICK FRIEND AT THE INCORA COUNTY GROUND: Coming into the game on the back of two low scores, the allrounder took her time to set herself before unleashing her assault in the final overs of England’s innings

Nat Sciver pointed to a tweak in strategy as a major factor in her series-sealing half century for England in their third WT20I against West Indies.

Coming into the game on the back of two low scores, the allrounder took her time to set herself before unleashing her assault in the final overs of England’s innings, including taking 17 runs from the penultimate over bowled by visiting captain Stafanie Taylor.

Lisa Keightley has pushed the importance of exploiting the powerplay to her side, with Tammy Beaumont speaking after the first match of the series about how the head coach has asked her batsmen “to try to go harder at the top of the order,” given England’s depth – Sarah Glenn made a match-winning 26 in the second game, while Anya Shrubsole is carded to come in at No.11.

However, after England lost Beaumont and Danni Wyatt inside the first three overs on Saturday, Sciver and captain Heather Knight made sure to consolidate before pushing on.

“In the first two innings, I think I was just going a bit too big too early,” Sciver said. “I had a chat about that with some of the coaches and with Heather as well about what I wanted to do today and it came off, so it’s great.

“I guess I had to play a bit to the situation as well because we’d lost Tammy and Danni, who have been batting really well so far in the series and getting us off to good starts.

“Me and Heather came together and knew that we needed a partnership, so our risk levels were a bit lower.

“I think in general that’s how I wanted to play, regardless of the wickets going down in the powerplay already.

^{Sciver starred for England in their 20-run win}

“I know when you come in during the first six, you feel like you need to get away fast and make use of the two fielders out, but as long as I can run well and get it out into the outfield and when I do get my chance to hit the boundary. But in the first two games, I got a bit too caught up in going too boundary-focused first.”

The benefit of Sciver’s controlled knock was noticeable in the final overs. While Beaumont struck 62 in the opening game between the sides, none of England’s batsmen were able to turn starts into anything substantial on Wednesday evening in the second match of the series.

The presence of Sciver, therefore, who came to the crease after 2.1 overs, was vital as Knight’s side pushed on past 150 for a third successive game.

“As a team, in the last game we were lacking a bit because we didn’t have a batter in towards the end,” Sciver explained.

“We said before the game that we wanted someone in the top five to be there to stabilise it.

“It was good to work up to a score that we knew we could defend with the bowlers that we’ve got.

“When we play, we want to keep our standard high no matter who we’re playing, and making sure that we’re practising to play against the best in the world.

“It was important for us to make sure that we did the right things and got over the line.”

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