Best spells of Katherine Sciver-Brunt in international cricket

Winning the Player of the Match in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup final in 2009 was perhaps the icing on the cake in Sciver-Brunt's international career that nearly spanned two decades.

But the England star has quite a few memorable performances to look back upon as she calls time on her international career. Here we take a look at some of them.

5 for 47 & 4 for 64 vs Australia, 2005

One year after her Test debut, Katherine Sciver-Brunt was the star for England in the Ashes series against Australia in England. Having not beaten Australia in a women's Test for more than 20 years, England were underdogs heading into the series.

But Brunt's sensational spells in Wormsley helped England to a historic series victory. Playing just the third Test of her career, Sciver-Brunt destroyed Australia. Her 5/47 in the first innings bowled Australia out for 131 and after England took a sizeable lead, she came back to take four more in the second innings to restrict the Aussies.

She won the Player of the Match for her performance and also walked away with the Player of the Series for her 14 wickets across two Test matches.

4 for 29 vs India, 2013

Sciver-Brunt's best in the Women's Cricket World Cup came in 2013 when she picked up key scalps against India to help England win at the Brabourne stadium in Mumbai. With 273 to chase down, India were dealt big blows by Sciver-Brunt, who sent back Thirush Kamini and skipper Mithali Raj early in the run-chase.

With Harmanpreet Kaur on the charge, Sciver-Brunt cut down support for her from the other end by dismissing Reema Malhotra and Amita Sharma off back-to-back deliveries. She finished with 4/29 in her nine overs as England romped to a 32-run victory.

Katherine Sciver-Brunt announces retirement

5 for 18 vs Australia, 2011

In the Women's Quadrangular Series final against Australia in 2011, Sciver-Brunt played a starring role as England defended a par total in Wormsley.

With 231 to win, Australia's top-order were hit by Sciver-Brunt's brilliant new-ball spell. She dismissed Meg Lanning and Leah Poulton for ducks and then dismissed Shelley Nitschke to leave Australia at 33/3. She added the wickets of Jeff Duffin and Sarah Coyte to finish with 5/18 and win the Player of the Match award as England won the Quadrangular Series title.

3 for 6 vs New Zealand, 2009

The final of the 2009 ICC Women's T20 World Cup turned into a Sciver-Brunt show as the fast bowler ripped into New Zealand's top-order after her team chose to bowl first.

Sciver-Brunt, sporting bruises around her eyes after being hit on her face in practice, dismissed Lucy Doolan, skipper Aimee Watkins and Rachel Priest as New Zealand collapsed to 85 all out at Lord's.

Sciver-Brunt finished with barely believable figures of 4-2-6-3 as England walked away with a title win, one of the standout highlights in her long career.

2 for 4 vs New Zealand, 2023

In the Commonwealth Games Women's Cricket Competition, Sciver-Brunt produced a stirring new-ball spell against New Zealand in the final group match to help England to the top of the group and avoid facing tournament favourites Australia in the semi-final.

She sent Sophie Devine's stumps cartwheeling in the very first over and then cleaned up Amelia Kerr next over with a peach to set the tone for England. New Zealand finished on 71/9 in 20 overs as Sciver-Brunt ended with magical figures of 3-1-4-2.