Just like the first semi-final of the ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup, the second one too turned out to be a thriller. While Australia had finished ahead of India on Thursday, South Africa stunned England in Cape Town on Friday, carving out a six-run victory.
It is South Africa’s first-ever World Cup final in any format.
The nail-biting contest saw South Africa, the hosts, make a very competitive 164/4, thanks to half-centuries from openers Tazmin Brits and Laura Wolvaardt, batting first.
The momentum then swung back and forth during England’s chase. The England openers were off to a lightning start, but South Africa never gave up, with Brits taking four catches, including a stunner, to remove each of England’s top four. With the ball, Ayabonga Khaka claimed three wickets in the match-changing 18th over.
England needed 13 to win off the final over, bowled by Shabnim Ismail. They fell six short.
Besides Khaka’s three wickets — Amy Jones (2), Sophie Ecclestone (1) and Katherine Sciver-Brunt (0) — in one over, it was Brits’ stunning catch to remove Alice Capsey which also inspired the home side.
Casey’s attempted hook off Ismail looked destined to fall in the gap on the on side, but Brits flung herself low to her right and pulled off an absolutely brilliant one-handed catch.
