Heather Knight has posted her maiden T20 international ton with England bouncing back to thrash Thailand by 98 runs and collect their first World Cup win. England was in trouble early after losing the toss and then both openers for ducks, before skipper Knight dismantled the Thai bowling attack with a record-setting knock. Her 108 not out off 66 balls and Natalie Sciver's unbeaten 59 off 52 made for the highest ever partnership (169 runs) at a women's T20 World Cup. Thailand faced a tall order chasing England's 2-176 and finished well short at 7-78 after 20 overs as Anya Shrubsole (3-21) proved the pick of the bowlers. Sciver (2-5) also contributed with ball as Thailand opener Natthakan Chantam (32 off 53) and Naruemol Chaiwai (19 off 23) led the chase. Knight's innings saw her become the third Englishwoman to score a century at the T20 World Cup and the third ever in the format. England lost their opening match to South Africa and were struggling at 2-7 in the second over. "It was just about staying calm. Nat is brilliant at that and we just tried to keep it quite simple and keep it low risk," Knight said. "We had lots of opportunities to score; it was a very good wicket so it was just about building that partnership, not panicking, staying very calm and we knew we could catch up. "We were really gutted with our performance the other day so it was really important we bounce back with a good performance here which we did. "It's nice to be contributing. I seem to like batting in Canberra so I had a bit of fun out there and Nat was brilliant down the other end." Australian Associated Press
Captain Heather Knight scored an unbeaten ton to set up England's T20 World Cup win over Thailand.
Heather Knight has posted her maiden T20 international ton with England bouncing back to thrash Thailand by 98 runs and collect their first World Cup win.
England was in trouble early after losing the toss and then both openers for ducks, before skipper Knight dismantled the Thai bowling attack with a record-setting knock.
Her 108 not out off 66 balls and Natalie Sciver's unbeaten 59 off 52 made for the highest ever partnership (169 runs) at a women's T20 World Cup.
Thailand faced a tall order chasing England's 2-176 and finished well short at 7-78 after 20 overs as Anya Shrubsole (3-21) proved the pick of the bowlers.
Sciver (2-5) also contributed with ball as Thailand opener Natthakan Chantam (32 off 53) and Naruemol Chaiwai (19 off 23) led the chase.
Knight's innings saw her become the third Englishwoman to score a century at the T20 World Cup and the third ever in the format.
England lost their opening match to South Africa and were struggling at 2-7 in the second over.
"It was just about staying calm. Nat is brilliant at that and we just tried to keep it quite simple and keep it low risk," Knight said.
"We had lots of opportunities to score; it was a very good wicket so it was just about building that partnership, not panicking, staying very calm and we knew we could catch up.
"We were really gutted with our performance the other day so it was really important we bounce back with a good performance here which we did.
"It's nice to be contributing. I seem to like batting in Canberra so I had a bit of fun out there and Nat was brilliant down the other end."
