Twitter Reactions: England thrash South Africa by 137 runs to set finals date with Australia

England defeated South Africa by 137 runs in the second Semi-final

By Vaishnavi Thiagarajan Iyer

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3 Min Read

Sophie Ecclestone
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Sophie Ecclestone (Photo Source: Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Defending Champions England have made it to their second consecutive final of the ICC Women’s World Cup in New Zealand. A magnificent century by Danielle Wyatt and a supportive half-century by Sophia Dunkley helped England put up a huge score against South Africa in the second semi-final of the Women’s World Cup 2022. England went on to score 293/8, even after losing their top order players early in the game at the Hagley Oval. They managed to defend to total easily to seal the game by 137 runs.

Earlier, winning the toss, South African skipper Sune Luus elected to bowl first. While the Proteas were going unchanged, England roped in Anya Shrubsole in place of Freya Davies. Opener Tammy Beaumont, skipper Heather Knight, and all-rounder Natalie Sciver had to walk back to the pavilion soon as they entered the crease. It was Wyatt who played a brilliant knock of 129 (125), and to support her in the partnerships were Dunkley and Amy Jones.

It was a sigh of relief for South Africa when they dismissed Wyatt, but Dunkley and Sophie Ecclestone left no stone unturned as the former hit a 72-ball 60, and the latter, who came in late into the game, scored five fours in the 11 balls that she faced. England couldn’t have reached this score if South Africa hadn’t missed the crucial catches. Leaving South Africa to chase 294 in 50 overs, England had a very clear mindset in the second innings.

South Africa’s batting line-up came crashing down 

South Africa’s chase came crashing down when they lost their best batter, opener Laura Wolvaardt, to Shrubsole for a two-ball duck in just the second over of the inning. Shrubsole then dismissed their other opener- Lizelle Lee in her second over. The England bowlers kept adding wickets to their tally at regular intervals, which restricted the Proteas from being able to chase it. Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Lara Goodall, Mignon du Preez, and all others failed to withstand the English bowling attack.

It was the magic of Ecclestone on the field, as she led her team’s bowling attack and picked up six wickets in succession. She ruled the second half of the innings after she was introduced into the bowling attack. In just eight overs of her bowling, she managed to dismiss the middle order and the lower order and grabbed a six-wicket haul, thereby sending South Africa home for 156 runs, and winning the game by a whopping margin of 137 runs.

A proper team effort from the defending champions helped them make their way into the finals twice in a row. England will now face Australia in the finals of the World Cup. Both the teams are in good winning form for the past few games, and the competition will be cut-throat. The final game will be played on Sunday, April 3, 2022, at the Hagley Oval starting at 06:30 AM IST.

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ICC Women's World CupSouth AfricaEngland