Nat Sciver-Brunt celebrated her return from injury with a half-century as England booked their spot in Sunday’s final with a 40-run victory over South Africa in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final at The Oval on Thursday.
Heather Knight also made fifty as the pair put on a record partnership for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup semi-finals, and South Africa’s chase fell well short despite a half-century from Tazmin Brits, in front of another record attendance.
It marks revenge for England, the ICC’s second-ranked nation, who were beaten by the fifth-ranked Proteas in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 and ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 semi-finals, and they will now head to Lord’s to face Australia in the showpiece on Sunday.
SCIVER-BRUNT AND KNIGHT’S RECORD PARTNERSHIP RESCUES ENGLAND
Sciver-Brunt was straight back into the action on her return, as England lost three powerplay wickets after being inserted by South Africa.
Amy Jones (2) cut Shabnim Ismail straight to point, while the tournament’s leading run-scorer, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, was bowled for 12 by Marizanne Kapp, who ended with figures of one for 16 from four straight overs.
Alice Capsey (1) was trapped LBW by Ismail (2/31), leaving her side 23 for three and bringing together a pairing with 284 combined T20I appearances.
Sciver-Brunt, who replaced Sophia Dunkley in the lineup, took her time to consolidate alongside Heather Knight, before accelerating at the halfway stage.
Back-to-back boundaries took the partnership past 50 in the 11th over, before the team reached three figures two overs later.
The pair combined touch with raw power, Knight striking her first six of the tournament before three consecutive Sciver-Brunt boundaries took the score past 150.
The partnership totalled an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final record 133 when Nonkululeko Mlaba (2/25) dismissed both Sciver-Brunt (75) and Knight (58) in the penultimate over.
Four byes to end the innings saw England post 169 for four, with South Africa requiring the second-highest chase in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup history to reach their third-consecutive final.
ENGLAND SEAL FINAL SPOT DESPITE BRITS HALF-CENTURY
South Africa’s chase started well and captain Laura Wolvaardt was not far from finding her fluent best before Sophie Ecclestone took a smart catch off Linsey Smith (1/25) to dismiss her for 17.
Freya Kemp (1/11) then had Annerie Dercksen caught by Knight for three as South Africa stumbled to 49 for two.
The required rate was above 10-per-over by the halfway mark, and the dangerous Marizanne Kapp was gone for five soon after, finding Nat Sciver-Brunt with a leading edge off Charlie Dean.
The rate continued to climb and Sune Luus, back into the team for Dane van Niekerk, departed in the 14th over, cramped by a Lauren Bell short ball with the score 91 for four.
Tazmin Brits reached her half-century soon after, but a leading edge off the following ball found Sciver-Brunt’s hands off Dean (2/31) and her innings ended on 51.
Chloe Tryon was bowled by Ecclestone (1/21) for 12, and Danni Wyatt-Hodge ran out Sinalo Jafta (1) with a spectacular direct hit.
Bell (2/28) bowled Ayabonga Khaka for four, with South Africa ending 40 runs short of the target on 129 for eight.
Charlotte Edwards’ side will now face Australia at Lord’s on Sunday, the fourth time the sides have met in the final, with Australia coming out on top on the previous three occasions, as the hosts look to continue their perfect tournament record on home soil.
Scores in brief
England vs South Africa – The Oval, London
England: 169/5 in 20 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 75, Heather Knight 58; Nonkululeko Mlaba 2/25, Shabnim Ismail 2/31)
South Africa: 129/8 in 20 overs (Tazmin Brits 51, Laura Wolvaardt 17; Lauren Bell 2/28, Charlie Dean 2/31)
Result: England win by 40 runs
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