Sharjah: South Africa faces England in the ninth match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. This match was held at Sharjah Cricket Stadium in Sharjah, the United Arab Emirates, on Monday (October 7). Here, South Africa women’s team captain Laura Wolvaardt has won the toss and opted to bat first at Sharjah. So, the openers, Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits gave a joint start for the South African women’s team. The Proteas pair have looked formidable and negotiated nicely in the first five overs of the match against a potent English attack.
After powerplay, Tazmin Brits 13 (19) was the first wicket for Proteas as she holed out to Danielle Gibson off the bowling from Linsey Smith. But, on the other hand, the South African women’s skipper is looking solid at the crease with a 25-plus score. After that, Anneke Bosch and Laura Wolvaardt carry the innings on stitching a decent partnership; they look to step on the accelerator against the English spinners. But Anneke Bosch was dismissed for a well-made 18 (26) runs as she was bowled through her legs by Sarah Glenn. At the same time, Wolvaardt tried to go hard on Sophie Ecclestone as well. But the veteran Ecclestone anticipated it and varied the pace on the ball, cleaning her up for 42 (39) runs.
Now, Marizanne Kapp walked to the crease, and he has looked positive. But Charlie Dean’s ball hit the pads and clipped Tryon’s off stump for 2(5) runs. And then, Sophie Ecclestone again varied the flight and pace, catching Kapp off-guard, and cleaning the stumps up for 26 (17) runs. Finally, the last over saw an unfortunate run out of Sune Luus for 1 (2) runs, but on the other hand, Annerie Dercksen secured 20 not-out 11 runs, which enabled the Proteas to post 124/6 from their 20 overs.
Chasing 125 runs, the England openers Dannie Wyatt-Hodge and Maia Bouchier are looking to flourish at the crease, displaying a strong intent. But the England women’s team lost an important wicket by Maia Bouchier to Marizanne Kapp inside the powerplay for 8 (20) runs. Alice Capsey has walked into the crease. But Alice lost her wicket to Nadine de Klerk for 19 (16) runs.
After that, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Danielle Wyatt-Hodge are the crease, as they look to hunt down the remaining runs and get over the line. At the same time, the partnership between Danielle Wyatt-Hodge and Nat Sciver-Brunt was outstanding because they forged a 60-plus partnership to take England women closer to victory.
Finally, Danielle Wyatt-Hodge 43 (43) runs, which includes 4 fours, lost his wicket to Nonkululeko Mlaba, and Nat Sciver-Brunt (48 not out 36), which included 6 fours, put on a match-winning partnership as England defeated South Africa by seven wickets in Sharjah in a Group B fixture on Monday. Proteas were poor in the field and also let down some catches that allowed England to win and take the game by the scruff of its neck.
