Past performances prime England for home final in eyes of Sciver-Brunt
England captain urges team to control their emotions and draw on earlier campaign success ahead of their blockbuster T20 World Cup Final against Australia at Lord's.
By Daniel Beswick at Lord's
Nat Sciver-Brunt has called for her England teammates to treat their ICC Women's T20 World Cup Final like any other tournament match as the hosts strive to claim a first women's global event trophy in seven years.
Going unbeaten through the group stage and accounting for South Africa in their semi-final meeting, they face the only other team at the tournament with an unblemished record in Australia at Lord's on Sunday.
Sat in the pre-match press conference ahead of a Final, Sciver-Brunt is eager to ensure the group finishes a campaign on their terms in spite of the raised stakes and with an expectant crowd in excess at the Home of Cricket.
"Everything that we've worked on and everything was to try and get us to this point," Sciver-Brunt said.
"I think acknowledging it's going to be a big occasion (is OK), but it's why we've done everything that we've done so far."
"(Ahead of the 2017 Cricket World Cup semi-final) we sort of spoke in a similar way about, how special a day it was going to be, and try and be really present during the day and try and enjoy yourself as much as you can.
"That was what I've been trying to instill in everybody."
"Everyone has done so much hard work, I suppose, to get ourselves into this position."
England book their place in the final with a dominant victory over South Africa | Match Highlights | Women's T20WC 2026
England beat South Africa by 40 runs and marched into the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.
England have held firm in their home campaign thus far, with Danni Wyatt-Hodge shining in Birmingham in the tournament opener against Sri Lanka, complemented by Freya Kemp's 4/21 completing a statement 87-run win.
The hosts carried on in spite of the loss of their skipper who limped off with a calf injury in their win over Ireland, also accounting for Scotland, West Indies and a New Zealand side in a nine-wicket win.
Sciver-Brunt returned and starred with Heather Knight in a semi-final win over South Africa, recovering from 23/3 to post 169, a score well out of the Proteas' reach in reply.
Six of her bowlers boast at least five wickets to their name at the tournament to join their range of run-scorers, and while Australia batter Phoebe Litchfield suggests all the pressure is on England to deliver on the home stage, Sciver-Brunt instead believes the positive experiences of the campaign primes her team for their toughest challenge.
"The levels of confidence that people have in their own ability to be able to put their skills on display regardless of who we're playing, I think that's probably the bit that I'm most proud of and most pleased about," Sciver-Brunt added.
"There's been so many different people during the tournament who have had their moment to shine and to show what they could do.
"We have been put under pressure and been able to come out the other side.
"I think as a team we're really, well balanced in that way."
Nat Sciver-Brunt thrives under pressure | Player Highlights | Women's T20WC 2026
Nat Sciver-Brunt delivered when it mattered most with a fine knock of 75 off 47 balls against South Africa at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.
The hosts could join the the likes of the national football team who won the 2025 European Championships in football, and a rugby team who tasted World Cup glory last September in a golden year of women's sport in the country.
As one of three squad members to taste 2017 Cricket World Cup success, Sciver-Brunt feels the team can play their part in driving what's been a strong period for English women's sport, though admits she is trying to remain present on a personal front.
"We've got a chance to be part of that movement of women's sport in the country.
"But for now we'll stay in our bubble".
"I mean, Katherine (Sciver-Brunt, wife and former World Cup winner with England) said to me after the game the other night: 'It's actually is bigger than you think it is.'"
"I'm trying to stay really present and think about the things that are in front of me rather than anything too far away.
"We've been living in a bubble as a team together, and we're not letting anyone sort of stay out of that."
"I think once we finish the tournament and reflect over the next few weeks, we can hopefully see how much, and how far we've come and what is meant to people watching and the country."
The skipper confirmed the hosts have all 15 squad members to choose from on Sunday, though the same side as the semi-final victory is expected.
The No.3 batter got through the match unscathed after returning from her calf injury, blazing 75 off 47 ball in her match-defining partnership with Knight.
"I was bit drained, physically and emotionally. But (I'm) recovered as well as I could have done yesterday.
"I feel prepared and ready for the game tomorrow, for the battle, because, I guess we know it's going to be won by one of the two best teams at the tournament who have gone unbeaten.
"It should be a good watch, hopefully."
Gates open at 1pm local time on Sunday, with Rita Ora leading headlining the tournament's closing ceremony before play.
Clean Bandit will perform after the Final.