England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt scripted history with her fifth Women’s World Cup century on Saturday (October 11). A brilliant run-a-ball 117 against the 2025 edition co-hosts Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa
Stadium in Colombo put her at the top of the list for most tons in the tournament’s history.
She beat the record jointly held by England’s Janette Brittin, her team’s current coach, Charlotte Edwards, and New Zealand’s Suzie Bates, who had four World Cup tons each at the start of the match. Only Bates is active and playing for the Kiwis in this edition, putting Sciver-Brunt all but uncontested at the top.
The knock was the backbone of England’s innings, which stuttered under constant pressure from Sri Lanka’s spinners. Sciver-Brunt was dropped on just three and made Sri Lanka pay, hitting nine fours and two sixes in a composed yet dominant display. She added a steady 60-run stand with Heather Knight (29) after early losses before veteran Inoka Ranaweera (3/33) broke through with a clever double-wicket maiden.
Ranaweera’s spin mastery, backed by Kavisha Dilhari’s tight spell (1/34), restricted England in the middle overs.
England briefly faltered after losing three wickets for 34 runs between overs 30 and 40, but Sciver-Brunt’s late flourish powered a 49-run burst in the final five overs. Her milestone hundred came via a lofted six over extra cover off Sugandika Kumari, a shot befitting the occasion.
Sciver-Brunt’s century also put her second behind teammate Tammy Beaumont and ahead of Edwards for most centuries for the Lionesses in women’s ODIs. Beaumont has 12 in 125 innings while Sciver-Brunt is just behind with 10 in 110 innings, followed by Edwards with nine in 180 essays.
“She’s just unbelievable,” Beaumont said about her in the mid-innings break. “Doesn’t seem to feel pressure while batting. The way she adapted, started off aggressively when the ball was skidding on and then allowing the ball to turn past the bat a couple of times, staying composed. Shows how good she is and how lucky we are to have her in the team.
At a venue where 247 remains the tournament’s highest total, England’s 253 looks competitive as they chase a third straight win to top the standings, while Sri Lanka will hope their spinners continue to trouble the opposition in the chase.
