England chasing 320 to beat South Africa: Women’s Cricket World Cup semi-final - live
Key eventsShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureWICKET! England 144-7 (Dean c Jafra b Kapp 0)Marizanne Kapp is on a hat-trick! Charlie Dean, whose batting has been so good in this tournament, snicks another immaculate delivery through the keeper. Kapp has a five-for in a World Cup semi-final – and she’s now the leading wickettaker in women’s World Cups!ShareWICKET! England 144-6 (Dunkley c Jafta b Dunkley 2)Another one! Dunkley thin-edging a nothing shot through to the keeper to give Kapp her fourth wicket.It’s the player of the match adjudicator I feel for. Laura Wolvaardt hit an astonishing 169 and now Marizanne Kapp has figures of 6.2-2-20-4.ShareUpdated at 11.17 EDT30th over: England 144-5 (Wyatt-Hodge 22, Dunkley 2) Tryon hurries through another thrifty over, with just a single to Dunkley off the last ball. England are cooked now: they need 176 from the last 20 overs. And Kapp can bowl four of them.Share29th over: England 143-5 (Wyatt-Hodge 22, Dunkley 1) Sciver-Brunt played beautifully but she was undone by a true champion. It was a superb delivery from Kapp, fullish and with just enough seam movement to take the edge.Kapp almost takes her fourth wicket when Sophia Dunkley is dropped by the keeper Jafta, a tough chance diving to her right.ShareA killer blow for England. Sciver-Brunt tries to work Kapp to leg and gets a thin edge through to Jafta. Kapp yells with delight, knowing that is worth two or three wickets – and that South Africa are on the brink of reaching their first ODI World Cup final.ShareWICKET! England 138-5 (Sciver-Brunt c Jafta b Kapp 64)Marizane Kapp has done it!ShareUpdated at 11.08 EDT28th over: England 138-4 (Sciver-Brunt 64, Wyatt-Hodge 18) Wyatt-Hodge thwacks Tryon inside-out over extra cover for four. She’s such a dangerous player. Later in the over Sciver-Brunt hits a forehand pass that is marvellously stopped by the sprawling de Klerk on the boundary; that saved two runs, and South Africa might need them.ShareUpdated at 11.08 EDT27th over: England 130-4 (Sciver-Brunt 61, Wyatt-Hodge 13) A statement of intent from Wyatt-Hodge, who glides Kapp’s first ball beautifully for four. Three singles make it a decent over for England, even if the required rate is now 8.26 per over.ShareUpdated at 11.06 EDTMarizanne Kapp is coming on to bowl. This, right here, could be the game.Share26th over: England 123-4 (Sciver-Brunt 60, Wyatt-Hodge 7) “The one I have never understood is when someone ‘cloths’ the ball?” says John Starbuck. “Where did that come from? PS Tony Blackburn, in true Fast Show Smashie and Nicey style, used to ask, in hope more than expectation, ‘Is there anybody out there?’ because no calls to his broadcasts invalidated his work, he reckoned. Steer clear.”You should send that to ‘Ask Steven’ on Cricinfo.Share25th over: England 119-4 (Sciver-Brunt 58, Wyatt-Hodge 5) Sciver-Brunt smashes a pull on the bounce to deep square, where the substitute Shangase does superbly to save three runs.At the same stage, South Africa were… 119 for 2.ShareSciver-Brunt dropped on 54!24.2 overs: England 115-4 (Sciver-Brunt 56, Wyatt-Hodge 4) Sciver-Brunt muscles Luus towards straight midwicket, where Brits leaps to her left but can’t hang on to a very tough one-handed chance.Brits fell awkwardly on her right wrist and is leaving the field for treatment.ShareUpdated at 10.55 EDT24th over: England 112-4 (Sciver-Brunt 54, Wyatt-Hodge 3) England’s task is to take this as deep as possible. Even, say, 100 off the last 10 overs with four wickets remaining would give them a chance, provided one of those four is Sciver-Brunt.Share23rd over: England 109-4 (Sciver-Brunt 53, Wyatt-Hodge 1) Sciver-Brunt also reached her fifty in that Luus over, driving majestically over mid-off for six. Capsey tried to play a similar stroke and was caught.ShareUpdated at 11.07 EDTWICKET! England 108-4 (Capsey b de Klerk b Luus 50)Alice Capsey has thrown it away! After playing with such maturity to reach her maiden ODI fifty, she drove Luus straight to mid-off and was safely caught by Nadine de Klerk. Capsey walks off with her head down after a frustrating end to an otherwise fine innings. Blame it upon a rush of blood to the head.ShareUpdated at 11.09 EDT22nd over: England 99-3 (Sciver-Brunt 45, Capsey 49) Another left-arm spinner, Chloe Tryon, replaces Mlaba and concedes only a couple from her first over. Capsey is frustrated when she mistimes a wide ball straight into the ground.“Is there some sort of contest amongst OBOers to use the widest variety of terms for hitting the ball?” writes Andy Pechey. “Tanya had shots being mangoed, frying panned, baguetted, etc., so I’m looking forward to what variety you can conjure up. (Might be all we have to enjoy!)”I’m afraid Tanya is miles better than me in this department (and most others). But I’ll see what I can find in my urban Roget.Share21st over: England 97-3 (Sciver-Brunt 45, Capsey 47) Sciver-Brunt blasts Luus down the ground for four to continue England’s revival. Her ability to compartmentalise her batting – after the utter chaos at the end of South Africa’s innings and the start of England’s – is extraordinary.Share20th over: England 90-3 (Sciver-Brunt 40, Capsey 45) Nasser Hussain, commentating on TV, is critical of Mlaba for bowling a straight, defensive line. She is one of South Africa’s main wickettakers, and on paper should trouble Capsey in particular, but for now she seems happy to go at four or five an over without taking a wicket.Share19th over: England 87-3 (Sciver-Brunt 39, Capsey 43) Four singles from Luus’s over. The most impressive thing about this partnership has been its calmness; England still have loads to do but at 1 for 3 they could have fallen apart.“Yes, Rob,” writes John Starbuck. “There are some of us out here and reading in almost despair. Heaven forfend you should try to imitate Tony Blackburn though.”I have no idea what that means, John, so I’ll just nod politely like people do in noisy pubs when they didn’t hear what the other person said to them.ShareUpdated at 10.37 EDT18th over: England 83-3 (Sciver-Brunt 37, Capsey 41) South Africa decide against an LBW review when Capsey misses a sweep off Mlaba. It didn’t feel right. They could do with a wicket because England are inching their way back into this game; Capsey ends Mlaba’s over with a firm sweep round the corner for four.Share17th over: England 74-3 (Sciver-Brunt 34, Capsey 36) Marizanne Kapp, who was off the field for longer than I expected, is back on now.A rank bad ball from Luus is swept over short fine leg for four by Capsey, who then takes a very tight single on the leg side. Sciver-Brunt dives to make her ground – but she would have been in serious trouble with a better throw to the keeper.ShareUpdated at 11.04 EDT16th over: England 67-3 (Sciver-Brunt 33, Capsey 30) Two from Mlaba’s over, most of which was spent trying to process the drama of that double reprieve.It’s a good time for a drinks break, in fact. England need 253 from 204 balls and are still in the World Cup, just about.ShareCapsey and Sciver-Brunt almost out off the same delivery15th over: England 65-3 (Sciver-Brunt 32, Capsey 29) Spin from both ends now, with Sune Luus replacing de Klerk (3-0-20-0). Capsey is dropped at long-on, a routine chance to the substitute Nondumiso Shangase, and Sciver-Brunt is almost run out off the same ball.Shangase dropped the catch and hurled the ball into Luus, who broke the stumps with Sciver-Brunt scrambling to make her ground. She was just home. But Luus was not standing right by the stumps and had to reach to break the wicket – had she been over the stumps, Sciver-Brunt would have gone.ShareUpdated at 10.24 EDT14th over: England 59-3 (Sciver-Brunt 30, Capsey 25) A hint of turn for Mlaba, though nothing dramatic at this stage. A poor ball outside leg stump is pounced upon by Sciver-Brunt, who sweeps it round the corner for four with feeling. She has 30 from 42 balls, Capsey 25 from 36.Share13th over: England 53-3 (Sciver-Brunt 26, Capsey 24) Sciver-Brunt sweeps the medium pace of De Klerk emphatically through midwicket for four. That also brings up a very composed fifty partnership with Capsey. While Sciver-Brunt is at the crease…ShareUpdated at 10.16 EDT12th over: England 46-3 (Sciver-Brunt 21, Capsey 22) Time for Nonkululeko Mlaba. This is a test for Capsey, whose record against left-arm spin in ODIs is really bad. I forget the extra figure but it’s not good.A quiet start, four singles from the over.Share11th over: England 42-3 (Sciver-Brunt 19, Capsey 20) De Klerk is too straight to Capsey, who touches the ball very fine for four. For a 21-year-old playing her first ODI World Cup semi-final, and having come to the crease at 1 for 3, she is batting superbly.Share10th over: England 34-3 (Sciver-Brunt 17, Capsey 15) Close! Sciver-Brunt tries to drive Khaka and dragsthe ball past leg stump for a single. Capsey walks down the track and edges Khaka wide of the keeper for four; that’s her first false stroke I think.England are still in all sorts – they need 286 from 240 balls – but they’ve recovered well after collapsing to 1 for 3.ShareUpdated at 10.03 EDT9th over: England 29-3 (Sciver-Brunt 16, Capsey 11) Nadine de Klerk replaces Kapp, who is heading off the field after an immense spell of 4-2-8-2. She doesn’t look in any distress so I’m sure she’ll be back.Sciver-Brunt reaches to drive the third ball through the covers for four, a shot of class and authority. She plays a similar stroke next ball, but this time Dercksen swoops to her right to make a fine stop.De Klerk and Jafta appeal for a catch down the leg side when Sciver-Brunt flicks at a loose delivery. Nobody else is interested.Share8th over: England 24-3 (Sciver-Brunt 11, Capsey 11) A wide ball from Khaka is blasted through backward point for four by Capsey. Given the situation, she has started with an impressive calmness. South Africa might turn to Nonkululeko Mlaba sooner rather than later as Capsey has a very poor record against left-arm spin.Share7th over: England 20-3 (Sciver-Brunt 11, Capsey 7) Sciver-Brunt chases a wide half-volley from Kapp and is beaten. Given how well Kapp has bowled so far, you’d imagine that was deliberate; the knowing smile on her face also suggests as much.NSB edges for four later in the over – there is a slip but it was well wide of her. England are in so much trouble it’s not even funny. And yet, while Sciver-Brunt is at the crease, a miracle is always possible.ShareUpdated at 09.55 EDT6th over: England 15-3 (Sciver-Brunt 7, Capsey 6) Sciver-Brunt threads Khaka nicely through extra cover for four her first boundary. England have stopped the bleeding; now they just need to score 305 from 44 overs.Share5th over: England 10-3 (Sciver-Brunt 3, Capsey 5) Kapp finally concedes some runs off her 15th delivery when Sciver-Brunt, on the walk, forces a couple through the covers. The ball isn’t moving all over the place – but it’s doing enough, and her line and length are relentless.ShareUpdated at 09.45 EDT4th over: England 7-3 (Sciver-Brunt 1, Capsey 5) Khaka started with a wide but has been good since then. The required rate is already pushing seven an over but England can’t even think about that at the moment. Their route to victory (I know, I know) involves seeing off the new ball and teeing off in the last 15-20 overs. Nat Sciver-Brunt needs to score 170 not out, basically. No pressure.Share3rd over: England 5-3 (Sciver-Brunt 0, Capsey 4) Sciver-Brunt takes no risks at all against Kapp, who thus bowls a second maiden. Her figures are the stuff of fantasy: 2-0-2-2.This is shaping up to be one of the greatest World Cup turnarounds in any sport. Twenty-five days ago, South Africa were bowled out for 69 by England, who won by 10 wickets with 214 balls to spare.Share2nd over: England 5-3 (Sciver-Brunt 0, Capsey 4) Alice Capsey, promoted to No5, blasts her first ball for four and defends the rest of the over.Remember how everyone thought England had got the best possible semi-final opponent?ShareAyabonga Khaka started her spell with a wide, which at least got England on the board. The first legal delivery was back of a length and shaved the edge as Beaumont tried to force the ball through the off side. Beaumont reviewed with a nervous look on her face; technology showed a thin but undeniable edge.A few minutes ago – that’s how it feels – South Africa were 202 for 6 and in a bit of trouble. Now they are all over England like a cheap cliche.ShareUpdated at 09.33 EDTWICKET! England 1-3 (Beaumont c Jafta b Khaka 0)This is astonishing. England’s top three have all been dismissed for nought!ShareUpdated at 10.37 EDT1st over: England 0-2 (Beaumont 0, Sciver-Brunt 0) Nat Sciver-Brunt, whose head must be on a spin cycle, defends the last ball of the over. A double-wicket maiden from Kapp!“Don’t want to be too negative and England could still chase this down but I am intrigued as to where you think England would go from here should they lose?” writes Will Padmore, or rather wrote Will Padmore befoer they lost two wickets for nought. “A loss would reflect the recent trend of failure to perform when there is any sort of pressure on the match yet England’s best performers this World Cup have generally been the players closer to the end of their careers. Sciver-Brunt, Beaumont, and Knight unlikely to make the next World Cup yet take them out of this team and it looks so much worse. Does it get worse before it gets better?”The bowling attack looks fine in the long-term, despite what happened today, and there are batters like Davina Perrin to come in. There will be a bit of transition I’m sure, but with England’s resources I can’t see them falling too far.ShareUpdated at 09.29 EDTHeather Knight reaches for a wide delivery, feet stuck in cement, and drags it back onto the stumps. Kapp screams so hard with delight that she almost falls over. Champions deliver when it matters most; Marizanne Kapp’s first over has put South Africa on the cusp of their first ever ODI World Cup final.ShareWICKET! England 0-2 (Knight b Kapp 0)Scenes upon scenes in Guwahati!ShareUpdated at 09.44 EDTWICKET! England 0-1 (Jones b Kapp 0)Sensational bowling from Marizanne Kapp! Her second ball jags back through the gate to hit off and middle stumps. That delivery was as near perfect as dammit: the length was spot on and it came back a mile off the seam. Jones pushed defensively and was beaten all ends up.ShareUpdated at 09.45 EDTIt’s nearly time for the England innings. Under normal circumstances the openers would be fairly content to see off Marizanne Kapp’s new-ball spell. Tonight, dear reader, England don’t have that luxury.ShareThanks Tanya, hello everyone. England fans may have to harness their hopes after that astounding innings from Laura Wolvaardt. Numbers can’t do it justice but one statgasm is too good to ignore: at one stage, towards the end of her innings, Wolvaardt smashed 49 runs from 13 balls. Thirteen balls.England can still win this – but they need to do serious damage to the record books. The highest target they’ve chased to win in an ODI is 264 against Australia in 2023; tonight they need 320.ShareEngland need 320 to winWow. Outstanding from Wolvaardt, who held together a soggy bread and butter innings from South Africa whilst simultaneously wiping England all over the ground. Exemplary movement through the gears. And just so good to watch.Pre-match favourites England will need their highest second-innings total to win an ODI if they are going to take this one down. Thank you for your emails and over to Rob to see this one home.ShareUpdated at 09.06 EDT50th over: South Africa 319-7 (Tryon 33, de Klerk 11) Bell gets the short straw and the final over. Starts with a pukka slower ball but then de Klerk marmalades her through extra cover for four, and then steps wide to flaps over her shoulder and the ball wins the chase with Ecclestone. A single to finish, 12 from the over and England have a massive chase. This is South Africa’s highest WC scores, and Wolvaardt’s 169 is the highest WC score by a South African.ShareUpdated at 09.06 EDT49th over: South Africa 307-7 (Tryon 32, de Klerk 1) Tryon puts her foot on the accelerator – Bang, four slog-swept. Bang – four mangoed through the covers. Bang – six to punctuate the over, over the head of Dean at long-on, whose frantic back-pedalling is in vain.ShareUpdated at 08.58 EDT
Latest Articles
