ENG-W vs SA-W 2nd Semi-Final, T20 World Cup Highlights: England storm into final with dominant 40-run win

England complete a comprehensive victory as South Africa finish at 129/8 in their chase of 170.

England continue their demolition job in the 19th over as they pick up two more wickets in quick succession. First, Sinalo Jafta is run out by a direct hit from Danni Wyatt-Hodge after a mix-up, and then Lauren Bell bowls Ayabonga Khaka with a well-disguised slower ball. South Africa have now lost their seventh and eighth wickets and are reeling at 123/8 after 19 overs. Nadine de Klerk remains stranded at the other end with little support left. England are just one wicket away from sealing a place in the final.

Sophie Ecclestone delivers another crucial blow in the 18th over by bowling Chloe Tryon. Tryon makes room and tries to flat-bat a good length delivery but misses it completely as the ball sneaks under her bat and disturbs the leg bail. South Africa lose their sixth wicket and are now 119/6 after 18 overs. Sinalo Jafta walks in to join Nadine de Klerk. England are firmly in control of the semifinal and are just two wickets away from sealing a place in the final.

Charlie Dean strikes again in the 15th over to remove South Africa’s most dangerous batter, Tazmin Brits. Brits brings up a gritty fifty with a boundary but perishes in the very next delivery, offering a leading edge while trying to slog and giving a simple catch to Nat Sciver-Brunt at extra cover. Her dismissal leaves South Africa in serious trouble at 98/5. Chloe Tryon and Nadine de Klerk are now at the crease and need to rebuild quickly. England are completely on top as the required rate continues to climb with every passing over.

England pick up another important wicket in the 14th over as Lauren Bell removes Sune Luus. Luus tries to pull a short ball but miscues it straight to Sophie Ecclestone in the deep. South Africa lose their fourth wicket with the score on 91. Tazmin Brits continues to fight a lone battle and has moved to 47 off 43 balls. The required rate is climbing steadily as England’s bowlers maintain tight lines and keep picking up regular wickets in the middle phase.

England strike a major blow in the 11th over as Charlie Dean removes the dangerous Marizanne Kapp. Kapp steps out looking to flick but the ball goes straight on and takes a thick leading edge, offering a simple catch to Nat Sciver-Brunt at extra cover. South Africa lose their third wicket and the dangerous all-rounder departs for just 5. Sune Luus walks in to join Tazmin Brits, who continues to bat with composure and has now moved to 39.

South Africa are 69/3 at the end of the 11th over.

South Africa lose their second wicket in the eighth over as Freya Kemp traps Annerie Dercksen in front after a brief stay at the crease. Dercksen had just arrived following Laura Wolvaardt’s dismissal and could not make an impact. Tazmin Brits continues to anchor the innings and has now moved to 34 off 33 balls. Marizanne Kapp joins her in the middle and gets off the mark quickly. England’s spinners, particularly Sophie Ecclestone and Freya Kemp, have managed to slow down the scoring in the middle overs. At the end of the tenth over, South Africa are 63/2.

England finally break through in the 6th over as Linsey Smith removes Laura Wolvaardt. Wolvaardt, who was starting to find some rhythm with a couple of boundaries, steps out and lofts a delivery straight down the throat of Sophie Ecclestone at long-on.

Tazmin Brits continues at the other end and has looked positive so far. England will be relieved to have finally broken the opening stand after a steady start from the Proteas.

South Africa 43/1 after 5.4 overs.

South Africa begin their chase of 170 with a steady and positive approach. Tazmin Brits looks in good touch early on and strikes two boundaries against Linsey Smith and Lauren Bell, using width well and also clearing the infield with a lofted shot. Laura Wolvaardt gets off the mark with a single and settles in at the other end. England’s bowlers, particularly Lauren Bell, struggle with their lines in the second over, conceding a couple of wides. At the end of the third over, South Africa are 21 without loss, with Brits on 17 and Wolvaardt on 2.

England end their innings at 169/5 after a late collapse. Following the dismissals of Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight in quick succession, Danielle Gibson and Freya Kemp try to accelerate in the final over but manage only 9 runs against Ayabonga Khaka. A few boundaries come off edges and byes, but the batters are unable to find the middle consistently in the closing stages.

Nonkululeko Mlaba delivers a crucial double strike in the 19th over as she removes both Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight in the space of three deliveries. Sciver-Brunt, who played a brilliant captain’s knock, departs for 75 after a top-edged slog-sweep is taken by Tazmin Brits at deep square leg. She receives a standing ovation from the crowd and her teammates as she walks back. Heather Knight follows soon after for 58, caught at extra cover by Laura Wolvaardt while trying to loft down the ground.

England lose both their well-set batters in quick time and suddenly find themselves under pressure again at 160/5 after 19 overs.

Heather Knight continues to bat with great composure and intent as she brings up a well-deserved fifty with a powerful slog-sweep for six off Ayabonga Khaka. The milestone comes at a crucial time as the experienced batter has played a vital supporting role in England’s recovery. The partnership between Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt crosses the 100-run mark, giving England a strong platform after their shaky start. Both batters are now accelerating nicely, rotating the strike and finding boundaries at regular intervals.

England reach 138/3 at the end of the 17th over.

England continue their strong recovery as Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight build a crucial partnership. Sciver-Brunt looks in excellent touch and brings up a classy fifty with back-to-back boundaries off Nadine de Klerk, much to the delight of the home crowd and her teammates on the balcony.

Knight plays a steady supporting role, rotating the strike well and finding the occasional boundary, including a lovely inside-out loft against Nonkululeko Mlaba.

South Africa’s bowlers, including Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka, have not been able to break through since the early collapses. At the end of the 15th over, England are 116/3 with Sciver-Brunt unbeaten on 54 and Knight on 39.

England continue to struggle as Marizanne Kapp removes the in-form Danni Wyatt-Hodge in the 3rd over with a sharp nip-backer that beats her on the front foot and crashes into the stumps. Alice Capsey walks in but lasts only a few deliveries before Shabnim Ismail traps her lbw with a full inswinger in the 4th over. Capsey misses the inside edge and does not review, walking back cheaply for 1.

Heather Knight comes to the crease and joins Nat Sciver-Brunt, who is still finding her timing after returning from injury. The pair tries to rebuild steadily but the scoring remains slow as both Kapp and Ismail maintain tight lines with occasional movement off the surface.

At the end of the sixth over, England are 35/3 with Knight on 4 and Sciver-Brunt on 8.

Shabnim Ismail strikes immediately as she removes Amy Jones with her very first delivery. Jones tries to work the ball into the leg side but only manages to offer a simple catch to Annerie Dercksen at slip. England lose their first wicket inside the opening over for just 3 runs. Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who has been in superb form throughout the tournament, stays at the crease and will now have to rebuild the innings with the new batter, Nat Sciver-Brunt.

ENG-W 3/1 after 1.1 overs.

Amy Jones(w), Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Nat Sciver-Brunt(c), Alice Capsey, Heather Knight, Freya Kemp, Danielle Gibson, Charlotte Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell.

Laura Wolvaardt(c), Tazmin Brits, Annerie Dercksen, Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Nadine de Klerk, Chloe Tryon, Sinalo Jafta(w), Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba

“I was gonna have a bowl as well. I am prepared to do anything and worked really hard with the medical time. I have come in place of Sophia Dunkley. Everyone is really confident with what they have done, we are in a good spot and hopefully we will go well.”

“We gonna have a bowl, feel it is a hard ground to defend later on. Just one change. Sune Luus comes in for Dane, just a tactical change.”

South Africa Women win toss and opt to bowl.