As England prepare for a return to The Incora County Ground to face Sri Lanka in IT20 action next month, we take a look at five of their best moments in Derby over the years.
Heather Knight’s side have only lost once at Derby since 2017 and will be hoping to keep that run of form going this September, after enjoying a historic Ashes summer.
1. Sciver-Brunt invents Natmeg on way to century
ICC Women’s World Cup, 12 July 2017
Nat Sciver-Brunt scored an impressive 129 off 111 balls back in 2017 at Derby, helping her side post 284 for 9, leading to progression into the semi-finals. The innings also saw the invention of the ‘Natmeg’ – which you can watch by clicking the button below.
Sciver-Brunt’s innings contained 11 boundaries and rescued her side from 52-3 in a must-win game.
The centurion on the day combined with Tammy Beaumont (93) for a 170-run partnership, before Beaumont fell just short of her century. England defeated New Zealand by 75 runs, with a valuable contribution from Alex Hartley (3-44) with the ball.
2. Knight hits century againts New Zealand
Fourth ODI, 23 Sept 2021
Captain Heather Knight produced a match-winning knock in September 2021, also against New Zealand, which carried her side to an unassailable 3-1 series lead.
Knight anchored the innings with 101 off 107 balls as England achieved their highest successful WODI chase at the time, reaching the target of 245 with just three balls to spare.
The chase was timed perfectly by skipper Knight as team-mate Danni Wyatt (27) and Amy Jones (40) played supporting roles for their captain.
The game was won in the final over with three balls to spare, when Sophie Ecclestone was stumped with scores level- but it was off a wide delivery- therefore securing the English victory in slightly bizarre fashion.
3. Sciver brunt 82 v West Indies
Third IT20, 26 Sept 2020
Nat Sciver-Brunt produced another memorable innings at The Incora County Ground, this time in a WT20I against West Indies in September 2020.
Sciver-Brunt hit 82 off 61- her highest score in the format- as England posted 154-6, before Sarah Glenn (2-18) and Katherine Sciver-Brunt (2-29) claimed wickets to wrap up victory by 20 runs.
With this win, England secured the series win, with two games still to play at Derby.
4. 176 v South Africa
Third IT20, 25 July 2022
An all-round team performance as England recorded their highest IT20 score at Derby of 176, one of their highest totals on home soil in the format.
Contributions from Danni Wyatt (30) and Amy Jones (28) set the platform before a blistering knock of 33 off just 12 balls from Sophie Ecclestone to propel her side to the impressive total.
In reply, Ecclestone was chief destroyer with ball in hand as she claimed figures of 2-24 alongside Freya Kemp (2-18), as England secured a series win at Derby, as the match also set a then broadcast record for viewers of an England Women’s bilateral match, with more than 750,000 people watching.
5. Glenn shines v West Indies
Second IT20, 23 Sept 2020
Derbyshire’s own Sarah Glenn put in a Player of the Match performance as she starred with bat and ball to help her side to victory by 47 runs.
Glenn (26) top-scored in the England innings with a useful lower-order cameo to help her side post a total of 151 for 8, after England’s recognised batters had failed to register any scores of note.
With ball in hand, Glenn claimed the key wickets of Deandra Dottin and West Indies captain Stephanie Taylor to ensure her side to a comfortable victory in the end.
The Derbyshire-born spinner would go on to claim the Player of the Series award, as England claimed a 5-0 victory over the touring West Indies.
