Sciver-Brunt set to miss rest of South Africa tour

England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt has flown home from the team’s intra-squad series in South Africa for family reasons and will take no further part in the tour, the England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed on Thursday.

The abrupt departure of the skipper, who had been leading Team Brittin against Charlie Dean’s Team Heyhoe Flint, leaves England’s preparations for the home Women’s T20 World Cup without one of its most influential voices. Sciver-Brunt marked her only appearance of the trip with an unbeaten 41 off 24 balls in Monday’s nine-wicket victory, but her exit coincided with a dramatic reversal of fortunes for her side.

In Thursday’s second fixture, now skippered by Sophia Dunkley, Team Brittin were bundled out for 70 inside 14.4 overs. Dean, Tilly Corteen-Coleman and Mahika Gaur each claimed three wickets, before Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s aggressive 47 not out and Tammy Beaumont’s unbeaten 26 steered Team Heyhoe Flint to a comprehensive 10-wicket win.

The remaining schedule features three additional matches—Friday, Tuesday and Thursday—as players jostle for World Cup selection. Eight members of the touring party have yet to earn an England cap, among them Corteen-Coleman, Jodi Grewcock, Grace Potts, Grace Scrivens, Alexa Stonehouse, Davina Perrin, Rhianna Southby and Ellie Threlkeld.

England open their T20 World Cup campaign against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston on 12 June, with the tournament culminating in the final at Lord’s on 5 July. Every game will be shown live on Sky Sports Cricket.