England vs South Africa turned on a 133-run rescue, and England won by 40 runs at the Oval to reach the Women’s T20 World Cup final. After slipping to 23 for three, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight pulled the innings back and set up a place in the final against Australia at Lord’s on Sunday.
Sciver-Brunt and Knight restore England
England were in trouble early, but the captain and Knight rebuilt the innings with a record partnership of 133 from 90 balls. Sciver-Brunt played through a weak calf and still helped carry the fight back after the top order had been broken open.
That stand gave England the score they needed to defend. Freya Kemp and Dani Gibson added seven runs between them at the end, and South Africa were left to chase 170.
Ecclestone breaks South Africa
Sophie Ecclestone struck in the sixth over when Laura Wolvaardt was caught at mid-on. Eight overs later, she removed Sune Luus with a catch at short fine leg, and South Africa’s chase started to lose shape.
Charlie Dean added two more blows through catches from Marizanne Kapp and Tazmin Brits, leaving South Africa 95 for five before the innings gradually petered out. Wolvaardt had been the batter South Africa needed to go deep, but once she went, the chase lost its anchor.
Lord’s waits for England
The Oval crowd of 21,000 saw England handle the pressure after a home semi-final began with a wobble. That is the useful detail for the final at Lord’s: England have already shown they can recover from 23 for three and still control a knockout match.
The route to Sunday is simple now. South Africa go home after falling 40 runs short, while England carry a record stand, a rescue act from Sciver-Brunt, and a final against Australia into the weekend.
