Hat-trick of England success on Magic Monday

Magic Monday was the feeling across Women’s Sport in England after sensational victories in football, cricket and hockey. 

After a tense opening win over Austria in Euro 2022, England entered the clash with Norway at Brighton’s Amex Stadium knowing that the spotlight was on for the hosts and tournament favourites to deliver a statement performance. 

The response was truly incredible. 

A penalty from Georgia Stanway was quickly followed by a Lauren Hemp goal. Ellen White and Beth Mead then took over with a quickfire brace for each of them and Norway were, incredibly, 6-0 down at half-time. 

Alessia Russo headed in number seven after the break and Mead completed her hat-trick for an 8-0 victory, ensuring England’s place in the quarter-finals with a game to spare. 

That final game will be against Northern Ireland, who sadly bowed out of their debut tournament at this level following a 2-0 defeat to Austria. 

Emma Lamb was the star for England’s cricket team, as she struck a tremendous maiden international century to secure a comfortable five-wicket win over South Africa in the first one-day international in Northampton. 

Nat Sciver took career best figures of 4-59 with the ball and Katherine Brunt 3-18, as South Africa struggled to 218 all out. Lamb took control of the reply, scoring a brilliant 102, while Sciver chipped in with an entertaining 55 from 31 balls. 

The good news extended to the hockey pitch, where a 5-0 win for England over South Korea booked a place in the World Cup quarter-final to face Argentina on Wednesday.