Capsey’s 88* seals England win over Australia
England produced a composed chase in Bengaluru to beat Australia by four wickets in the final Women’s World Cup 2025 warm-up match. With Nat Sciver-Brunt rested as England rotated their squad, a middle-order reshuffle faced a stiff test early, slipping to 32-3. But a measured innings from a rising star reset the tempo as Alice Capsey smashed an unbeaten 88 to guide England to 248 with 15 balls to spare.
Capsey’s fearless knock and crucial partnerships
Capsey anchored the innings after Sophia Dunkley, who hit 54, helped recover the innings from a shaky start. Dunkley’s dismissal, bowled by Darcie Brown, sparked a short setback, and Danni Wyatt-Hodge fell cheaply for 10, leaving England at 120-5. Capsey then forged a telling stand of 82 with Dunkley and a longer 109-run partnership with Emma Lamb, who contributed 60 as England rallied to a commanding finish. Capsey’s gritty unbeaten 88 not out, combined with Lamb’s steady 60, steered England past the target in the 45th over as the chase gathered momentum at every stage.
Lamb’s all-round contributions and a flattened top order
England had slipped to 32-3 in pursuit of 248, with Tammy Beaumont and Heather Knight both dismissed cheaply and Amy Jones falling to Megan Schutt for 11. Beaumont and Knight were undone by Kim Garth, leaving England looking for a stabilizing partnership. Lamb’s 60 from 68 balls, following Dunkley’s earlier effort, provided the backbone for England’s late surge as Capsey seized the moment to finish the job. The late-order partnership, including Capsey’s unbroken stand, underscored England’s depth in a squad rotating through the warm‑up fixtures before the World Cup.
Australia’s innings: Litchfield, Mooney and a late collapse
Australia posted 247 all out in 34.4 overs after Lauren Bell struck in the first over to remove Alyssa Healy, and Phoebe Litchfield’s 71 from 48 buoyed their innings. The innings looked set for more before a mid- to late-order collapse derailed the chase. Ellyse Perry did not feature, but top-order batters Georgia Voll, Sophie Molineux and Georgia Wareham all failed to convert, leaving Beth Mooney to rescue some pride with 59 from 42 balls at number nine. Sarah Glenn’s 5-32 spell, supported by a disciplined bowling attack, proved decisive as Australia tumbled from a strong position to a disappointing total.
World Cup 2025: momentum and what it means for England
The win in Bengaluru gives England a confidence boost ahead of the World Cup, which starts next week in India. The tournament opener pits India against Sri Lanka in Guwahati, with England’s campaign commencing against South Africa at the same venue on Friday. The victory over Australia, built on Capsey’s electrifying and steady batting, plus Glenn’s leg-spin and the rest of the attack, bodes well for England as they navigate Australia’s pace-heavy lineup again in the main event.
Turning points and player notes
Key moments included Capsey’s unbroken 88 and the 109-run partnership with Lamb that finally put England within reach. Glenn’s five-wicket haul for Australia was a standout performance but ultimately could not stop England’s late surge. On the England side, the mid-order resilience—particularly in Capsey, Dunkley and Lamb—masked the absence of Sciver-Brunt and demonstrated the depth of a squad used to rotating through warm-up fixtures against quality opposition.
