Commonwealth Games Watch: England make perfect start

England are going for gold in the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and we’re keeping track of their progress ahead of returning to The Incora County Ground to face India this September! 

Despite an injury to captain and key player, Heather Knight, England have made the perfect start to the tournament, putting in two exceptional team performances to beat Sri Lanka and South Africa at Edgbaston.

Fresh from her starring role in England’s T20 win at Derby last month, Sophie Ecclestone kept her good form going with 3-25 against Sri Lanka, who were restricted to 106-9, before the promising Alice Capsey top-scored with 44, to secure a convincing win in front of a big Birmingham crowd.

Capsey once again took centre stage in England’s victory over a familiar foe, South Africa, their seventh win over Laura Volvaardt and company this summer. The 18-year-old batter struck 50 from 37 balls, as England set their opponents 168 to win, but tight bowling from the likes of Katherine Brunt, Nat Sciver and Ecclestone saw them to a 26-run triumph.

England’s next game is against fellow perfect starters, New Zealand, on Thursday 4 August (6pm start) and they’ll be looking to make it three wins from as many games.

The national team return to Derby on Tuesday 13 September, hopefully with Commonwealth Games medals in tow, as they aim to extend their unbeaten streak at The Incora County Ground, which has been running since 2017.

They will face India, who themselves are in with a good chance of progressing in Birmingham, after an impressive victory over Pakistan with more than eight overs to spare.

Smriti Mandhana will be one of the stars of that match at Derby, and her unbeaten 63 in the victory is just a taste of what the world class batter is capable of.

England vs India – international cricket returns to Derby

Two giants of international cricket will clash, as Heather Knight’s England aim to extend their Incora County Ground unbeaten streak against India on Tuesday 13 September