Heather Knight, admits Alyssa Healy innings ‘one of the best I have seen’

England’s Women’s Cricket World Cup’s major pride received by Heather Knight despite falling short in the final against Australia.

Defending champions were undone by Australia’s best performer, Alyssa Healy’s 170, as described by Knight as one of the best innings she’s seen launching the winners to 356-5 having been put into bat.

England was bowled out 71 runs short as they embarked on a world record chase but Knight believes Sciver’s brave 148 not-out was emblematic of their campaign in New Zealand.

The Captain said, “I’m very disappointed, I’m really proud of Nat and the fight she put on obviously to give us a chance to win and we, unfortunately, didn’t have anyone with her to be able to really maximize two set batters. I think credit to Australia, the way they played in the final was pretty amazing. They made it very tricky for us to set fields, it was a very good wicket and that innings by Alyssa was outstanding. One of the best I’ve certainly seen live.”

Further said, “I’m obviously disappointed but I think we can take a lot of pride in what we’ve done as a group, the way we’ve fought throughout the competition to be in this position and the way we fought tonight.”

Sciver mixed the second-highest score ever made in a Women’s World Cup final, behind Healy, but still was left stranded as Anya Shrubsole was dismissed by Jess Jonassen to see England bowled out for 285.

And said, “When you’re chasing 350-odd there is only really one way you can play it and I thought the batters already got us off to a really good start. I felt a bit scratchy at the start. Heather was hitting it nicely, I’ve stuck in and knew that I would be able to get one away. When you’re chasing, the mentality of scoring runs takes care of itself really knowing that you need to be in there for a long time but also picking up boundaries where you can and luckily that seemed to come naturally. But it just got a bit too much.”