Brunt blunts Aussies

England beat australia for the first time in a women’s World Cup match since 1993 at Bristol yesterday to go top of the table with two games to play. needing 16 off the final over, australia fell just short as Katherine Brunt took a fine catch on the boundary to hand Jenny gunn a second wicket. although a natalie Sciver misfield meant a six from the final ball would have won it, Jess Jonassen was unable to deliver. It was quite a day for Brunt. She led the way with the bat, smashing an unbeaten 45 in a seventh-wicket partnership of 85 with gunn as England set the defending champions 260 to win. Then she took two for 42 and held on to that crucial catch to help England edge home by three runs. Brunt said: ‘It’s always nice to get one up on the aussies, but this is just one game, there are a fair few more to come. That’s the first one they’ve lost, so never count them out.’