World Cup SF, South Africa v England as it happened: Ecclestone, Shrubsole power England into final

2.00 pm: Just absolutely brilliant the way England have turned around their campaign. The quality in the squad is only part of that equation. In pretty much every interaction since, the squad has spoken about sticking together and believing that they can turnaround. Having each other’s backs. Enjoying their success, propping them up in difficult times... and here they are, five wins on the trot after a nightmare start across formats in 2022, to reach the final and have a chance to defend the title. All the credit to Heather Knight’s leadership and the way their match-winners have stepped up.

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In the captains’ press conferences, Meg Lanning said there are no favourites but everyone was chasing England because they were holders. Heather Knight said of course Meg was going to say that but Australia are the standout side and favourites. Well, here we are now.

England vs Australia in the final: Started the tournament with 0/77 vs Australia. Her worst bowling figures in ODIs. A six-for in the semifinal, her best bowling figures in ODIs and top of the bowling charts for the tournament. Just Sophie Ecclestone things! And let’s not forget Anya Shrubsole’s first spell that all but broke SA’s chase.

For her brilliant 129, the player of the match is Danni Wyatt!

1.01 pm: Sophie Ecclestone finishes with a six-for as South Africa are bowled out for 156 in 38 overs. The world No 1 gets her first ODI five-for with a stunning spell. Masabata Klaas and Trisha Chetty the last two batters dismissed. The star left-arm spinner steps up big-time in a crunch game for England. The defending champions are through to the final! What a turnaround this has been by Heather Knight and Co! They lost their first three matches in the tournament and were on the cusp of being eliminated but have not looked back since. Danni Wyatt with a brilliant 129 was the star with the bat for them today.

England win by 137 runs!

South Africa 152/8 after 37 overs: Charlotte Dean finishes with figures of 1/41 from her 10 overs. The new batter for SA is Masabata Klaas. The Proteas need 142 off 78.

South Africa 148/8 after 35.3 overs: OUT! Shabnim Ismail’s cameo comes to an end. She looks for another big hit but mistimes it to the fielder. Sophie Ecclestone gets her fourth wicket!

South Africa 147/7 after 35 overs: Another boundary for SA and Shabnim Ismail! Once again the left-hander steps out, this time against Dean, and drives it past cover for four. She then steps out again off the last ball and this time gets leg byes past the keeper for four. This will surely frustrate Heather Knight and England.

South Africa 135/7 after 34 overs: Welcome boundary for SA! Ecclestone tosses is up and Ismail steps out to drive it past cover for four. The Proteas need 159 off 96.

After such a fantastic tournament, Australia and England have reduced the semifinals so far to straightforward affairs. Best in the world for a reason

South Africa 125/7 after 32 overs: Time for drinks and this semifinal, is all but done.

WICKET! du Preez b Ecclestone 30 (48 balls): The world No 1 is on song! Sophie Ecclestone gets the wicket of Mignon du Preez and she is delighted. MdP goes far across and attempts the sweep but Sophie has adjusted her line and length. Bowled. Not much of a celebrator usually but she is jumping up in joy. South Africa:110/7 (30)

27.5 WICKET! Tryon c Sciver b Ecclestone 3 (10 balls) Laughs all around. After a bizarre LBW review, everyone is having a laugh. Next ball though Tryon finds Sciver at midwicket and Sophie says sorry to her captain for wasting that review.

South Africa 99/4 after 27 overs: Tryon and MdP in the middle. Required rate past 8.

25.3: WICKET! Kapp b Ecclestone 21 (28 balls) She’s at it again! What a delivery from the world No 1. 15th of the tournament and it is a delightful delivery that angles in to Kapp, turns past the outside edge and is bowled.

South Africa 95/4 after 25 overs: Some message being brought out to Kapp, but there are smiles all around. Kapp hits a four off Ecclestone.

South Africa 86/4 after 23 overs: What a time to bring on the world’s best ODI bowler currently. Sophie, turner, into the attack.

South Africa 81/4 after 22 overs: Looks like Kapp might take the counterattacking route too. The required rate is nearly 8 already.

South Africa would have loved to have du Preez & Kapp in the middle in the latter stages of the chase. Instead they are batting together at the 20-over mark. South Africa: 72/4 (20)

WICKET! Goodall b Dean 29 (49 balls) Charlie Dean joins the party. Lara Goodall’s briefly impressive innings is over. She tried to counterattack but had been pegged back in the last few overs. SA in all sorts of trouble.

South Africa 63/3 after 16 overs: MdP, SA’s leading run-scorer in this format mind you, has a big task on her hand but maybe her return to form in the last couple of matches will give Proteas hope. Right now though, this just looks near improbable. Time for drinks.

South Africa 56/3 after 14 overs: Just a remarkable turnaround by England. IT’s so easy to say, but they have just gone back to doing the basics right across disciplines... and it’s nearly taken them to the final. MdP has joined Goodall in the middle. SA need a miracle.

Over 11.5: WICKET! Luus b Cross 21 (24 balls) What a delivery. Cross told ECB that her favourite delivery is the sort of boring length where she tries to hit the top of off. Well, that boring delivery has now sent back the South African captain in a World Cup semifinal. Scrambled seam, nips back in, bowled.

Away from the World Cup...Uefa Women’s Champions League: Record 91,553 fans attend Barcelona vs Real Madrid at Camp Nou

South Africa 37/2 after 10 overs: Not done here yet, say South Africa. After an over where somehow Sciver didn’t manage to take a wicket (close calls, tough drop by Dean), Luus takes on Shrubsole for a couple of fours. Decent recovery from 12/2 after 6.

South Africa 25/2 after 8 overs: Goodall with a counterattack? Three fours in the last couple of overs. And it has forced the first bowling change. Sciver comes on.

South Africa 12/2 after 6 overs: Brunt has been so good from one end without the wickets to show far yet. Nearly a caught and bowled there off Goodall. The fuller lengths have worked like a treat.

South Africa 8/2 after 4 overs: OH DEAR! Sciver takes a catch at midwicket and Shrubsole has another! Not the most elegant of celebrations afterward but Sciver won’t mind. England won’t mind. Lee gone for 2. SA in deep trouble. (Game might be all out over at this point!)

South Africa 5/1 after 3 overs: Maiden over from Brunt. An inswinger to Lee that we have no clue how it missed the stumps. SO CLOSE!

South Africa 5/1 after 2 overs: LAURA WOLVAARDT OUT! For zero, no less. Shrubsole with a huge wicket in her first over, out C&B. We will not see the battle of No 1s after all. What a strike!

Innings break: Three of the best 5 run-chases in the history of this tournament have come in 2022. Twice by Australia and once by South Africa themsleves. England favourites at this stage but SA must believe this is possible.

Innings break: Worth noting that the last over started with Ismail dismissing Dunkley on 60, with Lee taking the catch at mid-off. That innings and Wyatt’s 129 put England in a great position but SA have been good chasers and will need to believe they can get there (they still need a World Cup record chase now).

England 293/8 after 50 overs: WOW, what a finish! 4-4-4 for Ecclestone off Ismail. A brilliant spell otherwise from the pacer, comes to an expensive end as she finishes on 3/46.

England 281/6 after 49 overs: Dunkley with another four in that over. Khaka finishes with 1/66.

England 274/6 after 48 overs: SOPHIE ECCLESTONE! Back to back fours off Kapp to finish that over. Two stunning shots, one down the ground and one helped behind square. Her batting has come up leaps and bounds.

England 262/6 after 47 overs: With the slowest of slower balls, Klaas deceives Brunt. Bowled.

England 256/5 after 46 overs: Back-to-back half centuries for Sophia Dunkley. What a player she is turning into for England!

WICKET! Klaas has been unlucky to not get Wyatt early on today but she has finally managed to send the England opener back. Lee takes the catch. The cycle of dropped catches started with Lee-Klaas, ends with it. A fine innings by Danni Wyatt! Appreciation from the SA fielders there. England: 247/5 (45)

England 242/4 after 44 overs: When Ismail looks a bit deflated in her walk back to the mark, you know things have not gone SA’s way. A great over but she looks a bit deflated. SA are looking a bit deflated.

CENTURY PARTNERSHIP: Sophia Dunkley may not actually run the world but she sure as heck has kept this England batting lineup running. Century partnership comes up there, first England century partnership during the knock-out stages of a Women’s World Cup as per @hypocaust.

England 223/4 after 41 overs: What is going on! Ismail of all people, drops a rather straightforward catch at deep midwicket. Khaka the unlucky bowler this time. Wyatt (and Knight) must be feeling this is their day. Same over, another chance but that is so harsh to be called a drop. Stunning effort by MdP to even get there. Let’s not count that.

Was just going to check this! Just two centuries in knockout matches before this World Cup, now two already at CWC 2022 three innings into the knockout phase. What a great stat. England 204/4 after 38, continuing to push on now as SA are getting sloppy with their lines.

CENTURY! A 98-ball 100 for Danni Wyatt! The first CWC century and the second in ODIs. What a time to get there. Had her chances but made them count. Brilliant innings.

England 188/4 after 38 overs: SA’s support pacers have not been at their best today. Klaas helps Wyatt get another four square of the wicket on the leg side.

England 180/4 after 35 overs: Fifty partnership: Like Dunkley has been doing, another crucial stand! And it comes up with a four for Wyatt through square leg for four. Slapped! Does it again last ball. She is into the 90s now.

England 171/4 after 34 overs: Discussion on air about Trisha Chetty not wearing helmet while standing up to stumps even to pacers. Anjum Chopra and NZ WK Katey Martin having that chat. Wish they speak to her maybe after the innings.

Surprised to see Sune Luus not bowl against this right-heavy England batting lineup. She has been searching for rhythm through the tournament but would have thought a couple of overs would have been worth it with Tryon being expensive.

England 167/4 after 33 overs: Dunkley needed to just regain the momentum for her innings and she takes on Tryon with a sweep for four. Still no Luus with the ball and Tryon has been expensive.

England 160/4 after 32 overs: First maiden over of the match, Klass it is.

England 160/4 after 31 overs: OH DEAR! Danni Wyatt has played a great knock so far, but it is another life for her! Lara Goodall this time drops one at deep midwicket. (If I recall, very similar to the one Goodall dropped Lanning late on in that innings, just went through her)

England 150/4 after 30 overs: Ismail’s done with 7 overs now, interesting decision facing Luus. Does she go hard at this partnership still? England, for all the wickets they have lost, have reached 150 at the 30-over mark. Not a bad place to be in.

Ismail in, another move by Luus to target the well-set and in-form batters.

STAT: This is already the fourth longest innings played by Wyatt in her ODI career in terms of balls faced. Couple of runs away from her 2nd highest score.

DRINKS: England 147/4 after 29 overs: Dunkley has come out and gotten going right away. 14 off 15 balls, with a couple of boundaries. Wyatt to her great credit is holding this innings together from the top too. Known more for her dashing strokeplay, she has played a fantastic hand here. 74 off 77 balls now.

25.4: WICKET! Jones c Tryon b Kapp 28 (32 balls) ...and Jones is out on 28! We shall take no responsibility for that. Lovely catch from Tryon to run from midwicket and dive full length even if it lobbed up kindly. That wasn’t easy. Kappie is happy. Out comes Dunkley with another rebuilding task in front of her.

England 121/3 after 25 overs: A big over that, no boundaries but England are looking to shift gears. Lofted shots, aggressive cutting... Du Preez with a stunning stop to prevent a boundary at the end of that Klaas over.

Just 28 runs so far... but Amy Jones has already played a crucial hand, with some delightful drives. England would have been in huge trouble (with more pressure on Dunkley again) had they lost another after Sciver.

England 114/3 after 24 overs: Jones has come out to play today! Some driving this. Off Kapp for four.

England 104/3 after 22 overs: The 100 has come up... a couple of fours for Amy Jones in that over. One a delightful cover drive, and the other bit streaky.

England 89/3 after 20 overs: England have lost Beaumont, Knight and Sciver in the first 20 overs. Huge task facing the rest of the batting unit to step up.

Half century! She has had a couple of lives but Danni Wyatt is still out there in the middle and has reached her second 50 of the tournament. Comes off just 56 balls, busy innings. ENG 86/3 after 19.

WICKET! 17.1: Sciver c Kapp b Ismail 15 (18 balls) BIG WICKET! Nat Sciver gone too! Shabnim Ismail was brought back in, just as we had mentioned a while back, with England’s star batter in the middle and it pays off soon. Great captaincy call and it’s the short ball that strikes gold again. Her bouncer is one of the most difficult to get away in the game, this wasn’t quite steep but rushed Sciver enough. Marizanne Kapp takes the catch. Huge moment in the game.

England 77/2 after 17 overs: England keep things ticking against Tryon.

England 71/2 after 16 overs: Wyatt and Sciver cautious against Ismail, expectedly.

England 67/2 after 15 overs: First sign of spin with Tryon. England keep things ticking. Luus brings back Ismail immediately, sensing the importance of a wicket here.

England 62/2 after 14 overs: Sciver gets going quicker than most batters in the game, a lovely pull shot for four off Klass.

England 52/2 after 13 overs: A huge phase of this match, SA need to get Sciver early and they can have a crack at the middle order. She gets going, she can take this match away quickly.

WICKET! 12.4: Knight lbw b Khaka 1 (19 balls) BIG WICKET! And SA get their review right this time. Captain Knight gone, Khaka strikes! There was some hesitancy to go for review but they do, it’s plumb. SA needed that after a shaky phase. Knight spoke in some detail about wanting to contribute individually with the bat, she just never quite got going today. And that was a great review, having lost one already.

England 50/1 after 12 overs: Another life for Wyatt! This time Kapp seemed to misjudge the flight of this one at midwicket. Not ideal from South Africa’s point of view, Wyatt can punish them here. Klass has been great for South Africa without the returns to show for it most times, today she has been just plain unlucky.

England 44/1 after 10 overs: Klass time, and oh dear, dropped chance! Wyatt nearly guides one into the hands of wide slip but Lee puts it down low to her left. Low chance but she had some time as it didn’t really fly to her like it does at slip. Not the toughest of catches, it could be said. Goes for four and another later in the over for Wyatt. England have finished the powerplay well.

England 35/1 after 9 overs: Wide to Wyatt from Khaka and back-to-back cut shots for four! Some momentum for England here after a quiet phase. SA lose their first review in that over to, reviewing a LBW against Knight that was hitting her on the pad outside off. Good over all round for England.

England 23/1 after 8 overs: Kapp has been so good since bowling a wayward first ball. 4-0-6-1.

England 22/1 after 7 overs: Wyatt taking on Ismail, a couple of cut shots in that over either side of point, one of them goes for four.

England 17/1 after 6 overs: Knight cautious here, letting the ball hit the bat more than going hard at it. Signs that she is just looking to see this opening spell off.

ENG opening partnerships so far at the tournament: 0, 31, 4, 3, 17, 20, 15, 10

England 15/1 after 5 overs: Ismail with a testing over. England are getting pegged back here by this brilliant pair.

STAT ALERT: England’s highest (and longest) opening partnership this World Cup so far has been 31 in 8.1 overs in the 2nd match against West Indies. A total contribution of 100 runs in 8 matches so far. Not ideal.

WICKET! 3.2: Beaumont c Chetty b Kapp 7 (14 balls): KAPP STRIKES! The big early wicket for SA is here and who else but Marizanne Kapp. Tammy Beaumont started with a glorious drive, but got stuck a bit since (struck once too, she just seemed a bit dazed since to be completely honest). She edges one here to Trisha Chetty, plodding at one that shaped away but could have easily been let go. SA rewarded for a tight start.

KAPP STRIKES! The big early wicket for SA is here and who else but Marizanne Kapp. Tammy Beaumont started with a glorious drive, but edges one here to Trisha Chetty. SA rewarded for a tight start.

England 10/0 after 3 overs: Just as Katey Martin was speaking about Beaumont being a potential LBW candidate early on, a LBW appeal from Ismail and Co! That was close. SA choose not to review, umpire’s call.

England 9/0 after 2 overs: Kapp starts off with a nervy wide but is on the money for the rest of the over. A sign of the pitch holding up a little bit in that over as Beaumont gets one to loop over the slip region. Wyatt going steady so far.

England 6/0 after 1 over: Oh what a way to get us going. Beaumont leans into a length ball from Ismail and drives through the vacant cover region for four. Ismail, of course, finishes the over with a bouncer to the grill.

South Africa’s regular captain is up and about, cheering her side on from back home. 3 am there.

Here we go then, Shabnim Ismail and Tammy Beaumont will get us going.

Milestones: 100th ODIs for Sune Luus and Lizelle Lee!

TOSS & TEAM NEWS

Sune Luus wants to see what her bowlers can do first up on this pitch and opts to bowl first after the toss goes her way. Same XI for them. Heather Knight would have bowled first as well but happy to put runs on board. Reiterates they have been playing knockout cricket for a while now. Anya Shrubsole is back, rested and fresh.

South Africa XI: Lizelle Lee, Laura Wolvaardt, Lara Goodall, Sune Luus (c), Mignon du Preez, Marizanne Kapp, Chloe Tryon, Trisha Chetty (wk), Shabnim Ismail, Masabata Klass, Ayabonga Khaka

England XI: Tammy Beaumont, Danni Wyatt, Heather Knight (c), Nat Sciver, Amy Jones (wk), Sophia Dunkley, Katherine Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Kate Cross, Charlie Dean, Anya Shrubsole

Unlikely that you haven’t read this piece by Ananya Upendran on Marizanne Kapp if you have been following the tournament, but a good time to do so now. Well worth your time.

06.10 am: Hello and welcome to live coverage of the ICC Women’s ODI Cricket World Cup semifinal between defending champions England and South Africa at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

It’s repeat of the 2017 semifinal. What a semifinal that was.

It is South Africa’s shot at redemption that comes after missing out on a place in the 2017 final after a heartbreaking defeat to England. It is England’s quest to repeat the thrilling win from five years to re-enter the final, after seemingly being down and out in this tournament with three straight defeats at the start.

South Africa beat England by three wickets in the league stage as Marizanne Kapp put in a starring performance with both bat and ball, taking five for 45 in what marked the tournament’s best figures so far.

Since that defeat, England have won every game as their road to redemption continues, and while their top order batters have failed to click at the same time, their spinners are saving the day.

READ MORE IN PREVIEW HERE

Screenshots in the blog courtesy ICC Match Centre / Disney+Hotstar.

Stats in the blog courtesy ESPNCricinfo Statsguru.

With inputs from ICC Business Corporation FZ LLC 2020 via Media Zone