England 169 for 5 (Sciver‑Brunt 75, Knight 58) defeated South Africa 129 for 8 (Brits 51, Bell 2‑28, Dean 2‑31) by 40 runs.
The England captains, both current and former, forged a 133‑run fourth‑wicket partnership off 90 deliveries, rescuing their side from 23 for 3 and securing a 40‑run victory. This stand marked the highest partnership in a Women’s T20 World Cup semi‑final and the second‑largest partnership of the tournament, guaranteeing England a place in the final against Australia at Lord’s on Sunday.
Sciver‑Brunt, returning after a calf injury that sidelined her for three matches, struck 75 off 47 balls, while Knight added 58 off 47. An all‑round bowling display then restricted South Africa to 129 for 8 in pursuit of 169 for 5, ending the hosts’ recent disappointment in major semi‑finals.
An early onslaught from Shabnim Ismail and Marizanne Kapp placed England under pressure at the end of the powerplay, marking one of their worst performances in that phase of the tournament, comparable to their match against Ireland. Kapp conceded only one boundary en route to figures of 1 for 16 from four overs, while Ismail finished with 2 for 31.
Among the early wickets was in‑form opener Danni Wyatt‑Hodge, who managed only 12, yet England’s deep batting order, which has finally coalesced this summer, proved decisive after their previous defeat to South Africa in the semi‑finals of both the 50‑over World Cup and the 2023 T20 edition.
Ismail, Kapp win opening gambit
Ismail became the first woman to claim 50 wickets in T20 Women’s World Cup matches when she struck on the second over, dismissing England opener Amy Jones with the very first ball. Jones, who had scored a half‑century on the tournament’s opening night against Sri Lanka, endured a poor run thereafter, managing just 36 runs across five subsequent innings, her highest being 17.
Marizanne Kapp bagged the key wicket of Danni Wyatt-Hodge•ICC via Getty Images
Ismail claimed her second wicket in as many overs when, following a review that saw Sciver‑Brunt survive a leg‑before‑wicket shout on a ball sliding down leg, she trapped Alice Capsey plumb in front. Although Capsey did not request DRS, replays indicated a faint inside edge. These dismissals bookended a spectacular passage of play in which Kapp beat the inside edge of Wyatt‑Hodge’s tentative prod and removed off stump, leaving the tournament’s leading run‑scorer back in the pavilion and giving South Africa the upper hand.
Nat’s back
With Kapp unable to bowl beyond the seventh over, Sciver‑Brunt began dispatching boundaries with ease, especially through the fine‑leg region. A sweep shot off Nadine de Klerk was followed by a powerful drive down the ground to bring up her half‑century. Substituting for Sophia Dunkley, who had recorded scores of 57, 14 and 49 not out at No. 3, Sciver‑Brunt justified a tough but anticipated selection, delivering a pivotal innings. Although she scored mostly fours—11 in total—plus a massive six over deep midwicket, she showed no evident signs of the calf injury while running between the wickets.
Nat Sciver-Brunt rebuilt England’s innings•ICC via Getty Images
Knight added to the onslaught by advancing down the pitch to a fuller delivery from Nonkululeko Mlaba, clearing cover before driving Ismail down the ground to edge closer to her fifty. She reached the milestone with a powerful slog‑sweep for six off Ayabonga Khaka. Knight and Sciver‑Brunt were dismissed within three balls as Mlaba secured a double breakthrough, but their partnership had already placed South Africa under immense pressure, resulting in a target that would have been the second‑highest successful chase in a T20 Women’s World Cup.
Wolvaardt struggles when it matters most
After a frustrating tournament, Laura Wolvaardt once again found herself starved of strike in the first three overs, facing four balls and scoring only two runs before grinding out a run‑a‑ball 13 by the end of the powerplay. When she thought the moment might finally allow her to settle, Sophie Ecclestone, who had yet to unleash her bowling magic, quickly demonstrated that the opportunity was not hers.
Linsey Smith and Sophie Ecclestone combined for Laura Wolvaardt’s wicket•PA Photos/Getty Images
England have shown marked improvement in the field since their infamous 2024 campaign, and tonight their catching proved pivotal to victory. Ecclestone employed her height and agility to dismiss Wolvaardt with a crucial breakthrough, and later took a difficult catch over her shoulder while sprinting back from short fine leg to snatch a top edge from Sune Luus.
Knight and Sciver‑Brunt contributed routine chances, including the dismissal of Tazmin Brits for a fighting 51. Although Charlie Dean missed a chance off Dercksen while running back from mid‑off and extending her left arm, the effort would have been spectacular had it succeeded. Wyatt‑Hodge’s direct hit from backward point to run out Sinalo Jafta in the penultimate over epitomised England’s growing confidence and fielding precision in this tournament.
![Balogun Faces Suspension as USMNT Focuses on Crucial World Cup Clash Following Red Card]](https://wp.fifu.app/globalindepth.com/aHR0cHM6Ly9zLnlpbWcuY29tL2xvL215c3RlcmlvL2FwaS9kOTllZmJhYmVhMmJlYTQxMGViM2M4YjQ3NmQyMjk2ZTZmMTdiY2M4ZjFlNjQ2YTIwOGIyNWU2NWFkZjliYjJmL2xpZ2h0eWVhcl9uZXR3b3JrYXBpL3Jlc2l6ZWZpbGxfdzEyMDA7cXVhbGl0eV84MDtmb3JtYXRfd2VicC9odHRwczolMkYlMkZtZWRpYS56ZW5mcy5jb20lMkZlbiUyRm5iY3Nwb3J0cy5jb20lMkY1OTVhZDZhZDA4ZWMwNDczZGU5Y2IyNWI3YWU1YThkOA/f9348d739b2c/balogun-faces-suspension-as-usmnt-focuses-on-crucial-world-cup-clash-following-red-card.webp?w=1024&h=1024&c=0&p=49975 "Balogun Faces Suspension as USMNT Focuses on Crucial World Cup Clash Following Red Card]")
