England register third consecutive win in Women's T20 World Cup
England continued their dominant run in the Women's T20 World Cup, securing a 38-run victory over Scotland in Leeds on June 21, 2026. The hosts posted a formidable 200/5 after being put in to bat, before limiting Scotland to 162/7 in their chase. The win keeps England unbeaten in Group B, sitting comfortably at the top of the standings, while Scotland slipped to fourth place with two points from three matches.
Sophia Dunkley leads with bat and captaincy
After Scotland captain Kathryn Bryce won the toss and elected to field, England faced an early setback as opener Amy Jones was dismissed for a golden duck off the very first ball by Kirstie Gordon. However, stand-in captain Sophia Dunkley, leading the side in the absence of regular skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt due to injury, anchored the innings with a fluent 57 off 37 balls. Dunkley's knock, which included seven fours and a six, marked her maiden half-century in the Women's T20 World Cup.
Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, England's middle order maintained a steady scoring rate. Freya Kemp (39 not out) and Danielle Gibson (30 not out) provided a blistering finish, adding 59 runs in the last three overs with a flurry of boundaries and sixes to propel the total to 200.
Scotland fight back but fall short
Chasing 201 for victory, Scotland began aggressively, with Darcey Carter (29) and Katherine Fraser (23) smashing 26 runs in the first two overs. However, England quickly regained control through regular wickets. Stand-in skipper Charlie Dean struck first, bowling Fraser after she had hit two sixes, while spinner Sophie Ecclestone made a decisive impact by dismissing Kathryn Bryce and Carter in consecutive overs.
Despite the pressure, Scotland continued to fight. Sarah Bryce played a brisk 34 off 24 balls, while Pippa Sproul (27) and Kirstie Gordon (23 not out) kept the chase alive until the end. However, England's imposing total proved too much to overcome.
Ecclestone leads bowling effort
Sophie Ecclestone once again led the bowling attack for England, finishing with figures of 2/23. Linsey Smith, Charlie Dean, Danielle Gibson, and Freya Kemp each picked up a wicket to complete a well-rounded performance for the hosts. The victory highlighted England's depth in both batting and bowling, as they continue to build momentum in the tournament.
