England are through to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final for the first time in eight years after an impressive 40-run victory over South Africa at The Oval.
Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt marked her return from injury by top-scoring with 75 from just 47 deliveries and put on a 133-run fourth-wicket stand with Heather Knight (58), as England rallied from 23-3 to post 169-5 after losing the toss and batting first.
South Africa saw wickets fall regularly after skipper Laura Wolvaardt was brilliantly caught by Sophie Ecclestone off Linsey Smith to end a 43-run opening stand, with England's economic bowling and strong fielding in the middle overs putting the hosts firmly on top.
Tazmin Brits' departure immediately after completing her half-century all-but ended South Africa's hopes, as Lauren Bell (2-28) and Charlie Dean (3-31) helped limit the Proteas to 129-8.
The hosts will now face six-time T20 world champion Australia at Lord's in Sunday's final, where England will be looking to win the trophy for the first time since claiming the inaugural edition - also on home soil - in 2009.
How England booked place at T20 World Cup final
England suffered an early setback when Amy Jones (2) picked out Annerie Dercksen at point off Shabnim Ismail's opening delivery, before Danni Wyatt-Hodge saw her off-stump sent flying when she was bowled through the gate by Kapp at the start of the next over.
South Africa lost a review after Ismail trapped Sciver-Brunt - returning from injury - on the pads, with DRS showing the ball sliding down leg, although claimed a wicket when Alice Capsey (1) was given out lbw despite appearing to make slight contact with the bat.
England stuttered to 35-3 at the end of the powerplay but safely saw off the remainder of Kapp's four-over spell, in front of a record crowd of over 21,000, with Sciver-Brunt surviving an unsuccessful review for lbw off Nonkululeko Mlaba before accelerating the hosts back into the contest.
Sciver-Brunt brought up a 35-ball half-century by hitting three boundaries in the same Nadine de Klerk over, while Knight brought up hers - off 42 balls - by firing Ayabonga Khaka over midwicket for six, with the pair's stand the highest ever in a Women's T20 World Cup knockout match.
Mlaba removed both in the penultimate over, with Sciver-Brunt picking out Brits in the deep before Knight left Wolvaardt with an easy catch at short cover, as England set South Africa 170 to reach their third T20 World Cup final.
South Africa had made a positive start to their chase until Wolvaardt (17) was unable to beat a leaping Ecclestone at mid-on, with Dercksen (3) slicing Freya Kemp high to Knight soon after to move momentum back England's way.
Boundaries dried up for South Africa after the powerplay as further wickets fell, with Kapp (5) finding Sciver-Brunt at cover off Dean and Ecclestone finding another magical catch off Bell to remove Suné Luus (11).
Brits brought up a 44-ball half century but fell with the next ball, advancing at Dean but slicing to Sciver-Brunt to leave South Africa 91-5, with Chloe Tryon (12) bowled by Ecclestone as England closed on victory.
Any faint South Africa hopes ended when Sinalo Jafta (one) was run out by a direct hit Wyatt-Hodge in the same over that Bell bowled Khaka (four), as England ended their poor record in semi-finals to reach the Women's T20 World Cup final for a fifth time.
Sciver-Brunt takes plaudits as South Africa ‘outplayed’
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt, speaking in the post-match presentation:
"The occasion gets quite big as well and so that increased the nerves. I missed a few games [with my calf injury, too]. There was a lot of emotion pre-game but as soon as the warm-up started, I switched on to game time and enjoyed myself out there.
“Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail are world-class opening bowlers who can do some damage. So Heather [Knight] and I wanted to nullify the threat and make sure we were in and able to capitalise on other bowlers. We used our experience, got out heads together and got the job done.”
South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt:
"I think we were outplayed today by a very good England side. The main difference between their innings and ours was that they had more partnerships. We didn't really have any batters get going.
“We were happy with 170, which we thought was par. They bowled well, had good plans and we weren't able to step up. It is frustrating to lose this way on a big stage and we will go back to the drawing board - but the fans added to the vibe and the energy.”
What's next?
England take on Australia in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup on Sunday at Lord's.
Source: Sky Sports
--Agencies
