SA-W vs ENG-W, Women's World Cup, Highlights: On the back of Danni Wyatt's century and Sophie Ecclestone's stunning six-wicket haul, defending champions England thrashed South Africa by 137 runs to reach the final of the ICC Women's World Cup 2022. They will take on arch-rivals Australia in final after they trounced West Indies in their semi-final match. Wyatt hit 129 off 125 deliveries and was ably supported by Sophia Dunkley, who scored 60 in 72 deliveries. Ecclestone played her part with the bat as well, smashing 24 off just 11 deliveries. Anya Shrubsole then gave England Women a great start with the ball as she removed South Africa's openers inside the first four overs. Ecclestone then returned figures of 6/36 in eight overs to help bowl South Africa out for 156. (SCORECARD)
South Africa-W vs England-W, ICC Women's Cricket World Cup, Semifinal, Live Cricket Score, Highlights, Hagley Oval, Christchurch
SA-W vs ENG-W, Women's WC, Live Updates
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We are back for the chase. The players are out in the middle. Lizelle Lee and Laura Wolvaardt are the openers for South Africa Women. Katherine Brunt to start with the ball.
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... THE RUN CHASE ...
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Right then! 294 runs for South Africa Women to win and make history. South Africa have never made it to the World Cup finals and they have a chance here. It will be hard but they have the firepower in them. An exciting chase coming up.
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Sana Mir is standing near the pitch. She says there are a little bit of footmarks, the pitch is not going to change a lot. Mentions that England will need to bowl on a good length, and the target is very good on this pitch.
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Danni Wyatt, the player of the moment, says that she is very pleased and they have great a score on the board, and she hopes the bowlers do well and defend the score now. Mentions that the wicket was good and she wanted to capitalize on the width, but she was playing her game. States that there have been a few good catches also, but it feels good when there are a few drop catches while batting. Concludes by saying that they have a good total, but still, there is a lot of work to do, the bowlers need to bowl well and bowl in the right area.
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South Africa have themselves to blame for! After choosing to bowl first, they did not make the most of the movement available early on and then the misfields and drop chances made it even harder for them. Five of the drop catches were of Wyatt, who went on to score a century so South Africa will be disappointed with their fielding mostly. They did well to take wickets at regular intervals but failed to control the middle phase. Not a good performance but they have a chance to redeem themselves by showing their class with the bat. Shabnim Ismail was again the star as she took three wickets while Kapp and Klaas came in handy with two wickets each.
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A superb innings from England! They were off to a slow start and were losing wickets at regular intervals but Danni Wyatt made sure she makes full use of the opportunity she was given. She was dropped five times at different stages of the game. Wyatt did well to put small stands with Natalie Sciver and Jones before Sophia Dunkley came and then both notched up a partnership of 116. It was much needed at that point as England were losing wickets regularly. Once Wyatt fell, Dunkley took the charge and scored a half-century and in the end, Sophie Ecclestone's 24 off just 11 balls could prove to be the difference between the two teams. England will be confident to defend this out as they have a good bowling attack as well.
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49.6WShabnim Ismail to Sophie Ecclestone
OUT! TIMBER! Shabnim Ismail starts the over with a wicket and ends with a wicket! She gets her third wicket! A slower ball, on a length, around off. Sophie Ecclestone makes room and tries to go over cover. But she misses it completely due to lack of pace and the ball goes on and hits the top of off. England Women end at 293/8!
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49.50Shabnim Ismail to Sophie Ecclestone
Very full, around middle. Sophie Ecclestone looks to heave this, but she gets an inside edge back onto her pads.
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49.44Shabnim Ismail to Sophie Ecclestone
FOUR! Make that three in a row! A slower ball, full, on middle. Sophie Ecclestone lifts it over the bowler's head and the ball races away to the boundary. Sophie Ecclestone is guiding England Women to a huge total here!
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49.34Shabnim Ismail to Sophie Ecclestone
FOUR! Another boundary! Short ball again, around middle. Sophie Ecclestone looks to pull this but the ball goes off the top edge over the keeper for a boundary.
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49.24Shabnim Ismail to Sophie Ecclestone
FOUR! Poor delivery and punished! A shorter ball, angling down leg. Sophie Ecclestone pulls it towards fine leg for a boundary.
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Kate Cross walks out.
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49.1WShabnim Ismail to Sophia Dunkley
OUT! CAUGHT! A fine knock from Sophia Dunkley comes to an end! Shabnim Ismail strikes and gets her second wicket of the game. On a length this time, around off. Sophia Dunkley looks to smash this over mid on, but the ball goes off the outer half of the bat and flies high towards mid off. Lizelle Lee there takes a simple catch.
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48.61to Sophia Dunkley
Slower ball, around middle, on a length. Sophia Dunkley sweeps it towards mid-wicket for a single.
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48.50to Sophia Dunkley
Fuller ball, outside off. Sophia Dunkley drives it towards extra cover.
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48.40to Sophia Dunkley
On a length, outside off. Sophia Dunkley looks to swing this but she misses.
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48.34to Sophia Dunkley
FOUR! Wow! Wonderful shot! Very full on this occasion, on middle. Sophia Dunkley gets low, gets under the bounce and smashes it towards deep mid-wicket for a boundary.
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48.21to Sophie Ecclestone
Another low full toss, around middle. Sophie Ecclestone sweeps it towards short fine leg. Marizanne Kapp dives to her left and makes a good stop. Single taken!
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48.11to Sophia Dunkley
A low full toss, on middle. Sophia Dunkley sweeps it towards fine leg for a single.