Pacers Shabnim Ismail and Ayabonga Khaka shared seven wickets between them as South Africa staged a spectacular fight-back to stun England by six runs and enter their maiden Women’s T20 World Cup ultimate right here on Friday.
Openers Laura Wolvaardt (53) and Tazmin Britz (68) struck entertaining half-centuries to take South Africa to 164 for 4 within the second semifinal at Newlands.
The sport went all the way down to the wire due to the efforts of Ismail (3/27) and Khaka (4/29), who each got here up with momentum altering overs. The 2009 champions England ended with 158 for eight in 20 overs.
“It was a great match. We were in and out of the game and it went in waves. We do have the best bowling in the world but it was against the best batting attack in the world,” South Africa skipper Sune Luus stated after the match.
“It (the final) is massive. Every game we play, we keep making history and keep inspiring a nation. I hope with one game to go we keep doing that.”
Danielle Wyatt (34) and Sophia Dunkley (28) made a flying begin to take England to 53 for no loss in 5 overs.
Star pacer Ismail introduced again South Africa within the sport with a double strike within the sixth over. Both Dunkley and incoming batter Alice Capsey (0) had been caught at midwicket by Britz. The one-handed catch to dismiss Capsey off a brief ball stood out among the many 4 catches she took within the sport.
With 81 wanted off final 60 balls and eight wickets in hand, England had been anticipated to finish the duty earlier than South Africa made a roaring comeback, egged on by a loud dwelling crowd.
Medium pacer Khaka turned the sport on its head by placing thrice within the 18th over, sending again Amy Jones, Sophie Ecclestone and Katherine Sciver-Brunt.
With 13 wanted off the final over and England nonetheless had hope with skipper Heather Knight within the center. Ismail removed her to seal a particular consequence for South Africa.
“Gutted. Brilliant sport of cricket. We did nicely to take it shut. They bowled straight strains and made it robust for us. This group would not outline us as a bunch.
“There is a huge amount of talent. We are starting to build something nicely. Sometimes fine margins happen and we lose the game. We are clear on how we want to go with T20 cricket,” England captain Heather Knight stated.
Earlier, the hosts’ star batter Wolvaardt and Britz shared a 96-run stand to put the groundwork for a aggressive complete.
England’s lead spinner Sophie Ecclestone was the decide of the bowlers taking three wickets for 22 runs in 4 overs.
It was a second successive fifty from the 23-year-old Wolvaardt whose innings comprised 5 fours and an excellent off-drive than went all the best way for a six.
Ecclestone was the one to supply the breakthrough for England as Wolvaardt, making an attempt to play on the on aspect, acquired a vanguard and was caught by Charlotte Dean.
Britz modified gears following her opening accomplice’s dismissal. Her again to straight sixes off leggie Sarah Glenn was the spotlight of her innings.
Ecclestone pulled issues again within the loss of life overs with wickets of Chloe Tyron and Nadine de Klerk in a 3 run over earlier than Marizanne Kapp acquired a a lot wanted 23 not out off 13 balls to take the full past 160.
Katherine Sciver-Brunt’s final over went for 18 runs and included a boundary off a waist excessive full toss.
Kapp ended the innings on a excessive with again to again fours.
South Africa had been capable of acquire 66 runs off the final six overs.
Source: www.hindustantimes.com
