Alice Capsey scored England’s fastest women’s T20I fifty to make it a perfect two wins from two at the T20 World Cup, on a day when several of their stars landed historic deals in the inaugural Women’s Indian Premier League.
Capsey struck ten fours and one six to reach the landmark off just 21 deliveries as England beat Ireland by four wickets in Paarl. The 18-year-old, who suffered a broken collarbone in December but has made a rapid recovery in time for the tournament in South Africa, was out next ball as Heather Knight’s side laboured towards a target of 106, losing five-for-33, before Katherine Sciver-Brunt struck the winning runs with just shy of six overs to spare.
Gaby Lewis’ 36 off 37 had seen Ireland get off to a strong start after winning the toss, but their lower order had no answer to England’s spinners, Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn and Charlie Dean taking eight wickets between them as Laura Delany’s side collapsed from 80-for-two to be all out for 105.
The victory consolidates England’s place at the top of Group B after their opening thrashing of the West Indies. They are next in action against India on Saturday in a game that is expected to decide who finishes top and, in all likelihood, avoids a semi-final clash with defending champions Australia.
The day began with players keeping a keen eye on events in Mumbai, where the inaugural WIPL auction was held ahead of the launch of the franchise tournament next month. Each of the five teams began bidding with a purse of around £11.5million and a maximum of six slots available for overseas players.
Ecclestone’s three-wicket haul capped a fine day for the world’s No1-ranked T20 bowler, after the 23-year-old secured a deal worth around £180,000 with the UP Warriors, who will be led by England head coach Jon Lewis.
That sum was dwarfed, however, by a bid of around £320,000 for all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt by Mumbai Indians, second only to India’s Smriti Mandhana, who fetched £340,000 when snapped up by Royal Challengers Bangalore. Australian all-rounder Ashleigh Gardner joined Sciver-Brunt as the most expensive overseas player when bought by Gujarat Giants.
Both Sciver-Brunt and Ecclestone are set to earn substantially more for less than a month’s work than they are paid annually by their England central contracts, understood to be worth between £60,000 and £100,000. Sciver-Brunt’s £320,000 deal is worth ten-times the top price band for female players in this year’s Hundred.
Capsey, England captain Heather Knight and opener Sophia Dunkley were also picked up in the auction, as were bowlers Lauren Bell and Issy Wong, the latter of whom missed out on a place in England’s World Cup squad after only being named as a reserve. Glenn, Danni Wyatt, Katherine Sciver-Brunt and Tammy Beaumont were among the English players to go unsold.
