England defeated South Africa by 40 runs in the Women's T20 World Cup semi-final at The Oval on Thursday, setting up a highly anticipated final against arch-rivals Australia at Lord's on Sunday. Both teams have won all six of their matches in the tournament.
England's Recovery After Early Collapse
Sent in to bat, England slumped to 23-3 inside the first four overs in front of a crowd of over 21,000. However, a crucial fourth-wicket partnership of 133 between captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and former skipper Heather Knight turned the tide. Sciver-Brunt, returning from a thigh injury that had kept her out of the last three group games, scored 75, while Knight made 58. Both fell in the penultimate over to left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba, who finished with 2-25. England posted a total of 169-5.
South Africa's Chase Falls Short
Chasing 170, South Africa suffered an early setback when captain Laura Wolvaardt was caught for 17 by a leaping Sophie Ecclestone at mid-on off spinner Linsey Smith. The Proteas' 43-1 became 49-2 when Annerie Dercksen sliced a slower ball from Freya Kemp to point. The key wicket of Marizanne Kapp fell for just five when she edged a leading edge to Sciver-Brunt at extra-cover off Charlie Dean. Tazmin Brits made a fifty at better than a run-a-ball before falling to Dean. South Africa, who had beaten England in the semi-finals of the 2023 edition and in last year's 50-over World Cup, were reduced to 95-5 and eventually finished on 129-8.
England's Early Wobble
Earlier, South Africa's fast bowlers struck early. Shabnim Ismail took a wicket with her first ball, Amy Jones cutting to point. Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who had scored a tournament-record 282 runs in her previous five innings at an average of 94, was bowled for 12 by Kapp's slower ball. Alice Capsey was lbw to Ismail to leave England at 23-3. But Sciver-Brunt and Knight, both survivors from England's 2017 50-over World Cup-winning side, revived the innings. Sciver-Brunt, playing on her home ground at Surrey, brought up her fifty with a four through midwicket off Nadine de Klerk. Knight slog-swept Ayabonga Khaka for a six to reach her fifty. Sciver-Brunt also hit a six over midwicket off de Klerk.
Final Showdown with Australia
Six-time champions Australia eased into the final with an eight-wicket win over the West Indies in the first semi-final at The Oval on Tuesday. The final at Lord's promises to be a thrilling encounter between two unbeaten sides.
