London (AFP) – England captains present and past combined to telling effect as Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight rescued the hosts from a top-order collapse with a century stand in their Women's T20 World Cup semi-final against South Africa at the Oval on Thursday.
Issued on: 02/07/2026 - 21:24
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England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt hits out in a Women's T20 World Cup semi-final against South Africa at the Oval © JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP
The Proteas, who won the toss, reduced England to 23-3 inside four overs.But Sciver-Brunt and Knight, two survivors from the last England side to win a major international trophy -- the 2017 50-over World Cup -- turned the tide with a partnership of 133 that took their side to a total of 169-5.England captain Sciver-Brunt, back from a thigh injury that had kept her out of her side's last three group games, made 75 and former skipper Knight 58 before they both fell in the penultimate over to left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba (2-25).The highest winning chase in any Women's T20 World Cup is Australia's 172-4, needing 171, when they knocked India out of this tournament in a group-stage game at Lord's last weekend.Australia are already through to Sunday's final at Lord's after thrashing the West Indies by eight wickets in Tuesday's first-semi-final at the Oval. South Africa enjoyed a brilliant start, taking three wickets inside the first four overs.Fast bowler Shabnim Ismail struck with her first ball, Amy Jones cutting a loose delivery straight to point.England opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge, whose previous five innings had yielded a tournament record 282 runs at a stellar average of 94, was bowled for just 12 by Marizanne Kapp's well-disguised slower ball.
