The Proteas completed a famous chase against defending champions England in the final over with a 3-wicket win in the Women’s World Cup.
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In another high-strung encounter, South Africa have held their nerve and defeated England in an intense final-over finish to make it three consecutive victories.
236 was the target to reach, and despite it appearing to be straightforward, it was never going to be easy against a solid English bowling unit.
It was a familiar unfavourable start for SA when Lizelle Lee departed early, courtesy of a vicious inswinger from way outside off.
However, the Proteas calmly surged ahead when the in-form Laura Wolvaardt continued in a similar fashion, while Tazmin Brits was slowly finding her feet after another jittery start.
The lack of pace was critical, as that was how England kept SA under control even when Wolvaardt and Brits were both looking increasingly comfortable. But the half-century stand came to an end when an attempted scoop from Brits holed out to deep fine leg. It was an important strike, as England were desperate to turn it around.
Skipper Sune Luus arrived when the situation was in limbo, and Wolvaardt reached another excellent 50 of her own. While Wolvaardt played more aggressively, Luus manipulated the field with surgical precision.
Persisting with spin worked well for England, as left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone went for only 2 an over, and Charlie Dean returned to dismiss Luus. And in the very next over, Wolvaardt was dismissed, too.
In search for consecutive boundaries, the opener poorly timed a pull straight to short midwicket, leaving SA four down.
After a miserly spell, Ecclestone was the next bowler to be rewarded with a wicket, as Mignon du Preez edged a cut to the keeper. The pressure was telling, as the required rate was slowly creeping up to 6, but the Proteas continued to toe the line.
The momentum shifts remained a recurring motif when the dangerous Chloe Tryon was run out in an unfortunate manner. A strong straight drive from Marizanne Kapp deflected off Katherine Brunt’s fingers and onto the stumps at the non-striker’s end. It was even stevens until Kapp hit a towering six over deep square leg in the 46th over.
Neither side had a clear upper hand until that moment, but Anya Shrubsole returned to trap Kapp plumb. This wicket threatened to bring the game back in the balance, but the equation was stress-free. A boundary from Shabnim Ismail ensured that only four runs were needed from the final over.
It’s been another scintillating thriller that South Africa have nailed. It’s been a stern, serious test of character and the Proteas have prevailed with nerves of steel. This victory makes it a splendid hat-trick of wins in this World Cup.
This was the first win over England in a World Cup in over 20 years.
ENG 235/9 in 50 overs (Beaumont 62, Jones 53 – Kapp 10-1-45-5)
SA 236/7 in 49.2 overs (Wolvaardt 77 – Shrubsole 9-0-34-2)
