On Thursday, in the second semi-final of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, South Africa were chasing 294 in 50 overs against England at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.
South Africa got off to a horrendous start as they lost their most prolific batter in Laura Wolvaardt for a duck in the second over of the innings. The right-handed opening batter, who has been the leading run-getter in this World Cup was caught and bowled by Anya Shrubsole. It was as if Wolvaardt’s wicket opened the floodgates that South Africa kept losing wickets at regular intervals. The highest partnership in the South Africa innings was that of 38 stitched for the eighth wicket by Trisha Chetty (21 runs off 28 balls) and Shabnim Ismail (12 runs off 14 balls). Other batters like Lara Goodall (28 runs off 49 balls), captain Sune Luus (21 runs off 24 balls), Mignon du Preez (30 runs off 48 balls) and Marizanne Kapp (21 runs off 28 balls) got off to starts but failed to capitalize. Mignon du Preez top-scored for South Africa, who were bundled out for a modest 156 in 38 overs, losing the match by 137 runs.
For England, the left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone was the pick of the bowlers as she scalped 6-36 in eight overs. Ecclestone not only recorded the best bowling figures for this edition of the World Cup so far but also registered the best bowling figures for England in the history of Women’s Cricket World Cups. Apart from Ecclestone, who is also the number one ODI bowler in the world, Anya Shrubsole (2-27), Kate Cross (1-22), and Charlotte Dean (1-41) were the other wicket-takers for England. England used six bowlers, out of which Katherine Brunt and Natalie Sciver went wicket-less.
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This is what cricket is all about 🙌#CWC22 #ENGvSA pic.twitter.com/Yhqwf4i7Sj
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England’s Danielle Wyatt won the player of the match for her match-winning batting performance. The right-handed opening batter muscled 129 runs off 125 balls.
With this win, England entered their sixth final of the Women’s Cricket World Cup. England will play Australia in the finals on April 3 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. South Africa on the other hand have been knocked out of this edition of ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup.
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