Twitter Reactions: All-round South Africa sink England's ship to storm into maiden T20 World Cup final

South Africa qualified for the final of WT20WC for the first time.

Updated - 24 Feb 2023, 21:48 IST

20 Min Read

After Australia secured their berth in the final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 on February 23, the search for the second finalists began as England and South Africa faced off in the second semi-final on February 24 (Friday). South Africa captain Sune Luus called it correctly at the toss and elected to bat first at Newlands, Cape Town.

The Proteas openers Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits started the innings positively and kept the scoreboard moving from ball one. Both openers were cautious early on and waited for the bad deliveries to get the scoring opportunities. After scoring just 14 runs in the first overs, Wolvaardt and Brits got a move on and finished the Powerplay with 37 runs on the board.

The last two overs of the powerplay got the openers into the groove as they began scoring freely all around the ground. Wolvaardt completed her half-century off just 42 balls in the 14^th over and looked to press on the accelerator. However, her innings got ended in the same over with Sophie Ecclestone getting England’s first breakthrough.

The opening partnership ended on 96 off 82 balls as the duo continued their good form. Wolvaardt’s dismissal brought Kapp to the crease and she gave good support to Brits, who scored 68 off 55 balls. The duo added 46 runs for the second wicket as Kapp also played a magnificent cameo of 27 off 13 balls to take South Africa to 164/4 in their allotted 20 overs. Ecclestone was the pick of the bowlers, picking 3/22 in four overs.

In reply, England got off to a blistering start as Danielle Wyatt and Sophia Dunkley added 53 runs for the first wicket in just 31 balls. Seeing England running away with the game, Shabnim Ismail ended the opening partnership by dismissing Dunkley and further dismissed Alice Capsey for a duck in the same over.

South Africa got their third strike in the 11^th over as Wyatt was sent back by Ayabonga Khaka. With the game stuck in a precarious position, captain Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-brunt stitched a 47-run stand for the fourth wicket to bring England in the ascendancy.

Ayabonga Khaka's triple strike brings South Africa back in the game

After Nadine de Klerk broke the partnership by dismissing Brunt for 40 off 34, Ayabonga Khaka wreaked havoc as she picked up three wickets in the 18^th over to shift the momentum in her team's favour.

With 25 required from the last two overs, captain Heather Knight kept England in the hunt and scored 12 runs in the 19th over. Ismail was given the responsibility to defend 13 runs in the final over and she didn't disappoint as she destroyed the stumps of Knight on the third ball to crush England's hopes.

England's tail could not take their team home as South Africa won by six runs to enter the final of the Women's T20 World Cup for the first time. Khaka was the pick of the bowlers as she picked 4/29 in four overs, while Ismail picked 3/27 in four overs.

Here's how Twitter reacted:

Shafqat Shabbir@Chefkat23

Shabnim Ismail. 6 years apart. A tale of two World Cup semi-finals against England.

09:45 PM · Feb 24, 2023

Firdose Moonda

@FirdoseM

Cape Town's very own Shabnim Ismail delivered one of the fastest overs in women's cricket and defended 12 off the last over. She promised she would be take South Africa to the final and she's done it. And how about Tazmin Brits! That javelin arm and those hands. #cricket

Firdose Moonda

@FirdoseM

Not forgetting Ayabonga Khaka, the ever-reliable seamer who turned it up in her last over. Khaka is often in the shadows of Ismail and Kapp but she brings consistency to the South African attack and was the silver bullet today.

09:57 PM · Feb 24, 2023

Ian Pont Official

@Ponty100mph

Unreal! Ismail bowls the fastest ball ever bowled by a female and the first at 80mph. Incredible. #SAwvEngw #WTC2023 #WT20WorldCup

08:40 PM · Feb 24, 2023

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ICC

@ICC