36th over: England 164-8 (Wyatt-Hodge 27, Smith 13) Smith chips Mlaba jauntily for four, avocados a six over mid-off and is then dropped by the bowler. Quite a tough chance above her head.
Mlaba hurt a finger trying to take the catch. The good news for South Africa is it’s on her right hand, which she doesn’t use for pressing business.
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35th over: England 155-8 (Wyatt-Hodge 27, Smith 4)
34th over: England 152-8 (Wyatt-Hodge 27, Smith 1) This is an historic day for South African cricket, the first time they have reached an ODI World Cup final. The women’s team have lost three semi-finals, the men’s team five. But South African cricket has been on the rise in the last few years, with T20 World Cup finals and the men’s Test Championship victory. This day has been coming.
WICKET! England 151-8 (Ecclestone c Dercksen b Mlaba 2)
South Africa are two wickets away from an historic victory. Ecclestone top-edges a sweep and is comfortably caught at deep midwicket. England, sad to say, are being thrashed.
33rd over: England 151-7 (Wyatt-Hodge 27, Ecclestone 2) Kapp is replaced by Khaka, which seems strange but is presumably to ensure she doesn’t pick up any muscle injuries ahead of Sunday’s final. She was off the field with cramp earlier in the innings.
Khaka concedes a single, then the players stop for a drink. The England dugout looks shell-shocked.
32nd over: England 150-7 (Wyatt-Hodge 27, Ecclestone 1) Wyatt-Hodge slaps Tryon to the cover boundary, then fresh-airs a violent slog-sweep. The other South African bowlers have taken 2 for 130 between them; Kapp has 5 for 20.
Even chasing 320, England would have been right in the game without those two spells from Kapp. Her competitive spirit – I wouldn’t want to face her at tiddlywinks, never mind cricket – should be donated to the MCC’s Museum when she retires.
31st over: England 144-7 (Wyatt-Hodge 22, Ecclestone 0) Ecclestone, whose delightful bowling earlier in the day was all for nothing, survives the hat-trick ball.
For the second time today, Kapp bowls a double-wicket maiden.
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WICKET! England 144-7 (Dean c Jafra b Kapp 0)
Marizanne Kapp is on a hat-trick! Charlie Dean, whose batting has been so good in this tournament, snicks another immaculate delivery through to the keeper. It didn’t do a lot but the line and length were just perfect.
Kapp has a five-for in a World Cup semi-final – and she has overtaken Jhulan Goswami to become the leading wickettaker in Women’s World Cups!
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WICKET! England 144-6 (Dunkley c Jafta b Dunkley 2)
Another one! Dunkley thin-edging a nothing shot through to the keeper to give Kapp her fourth wicket.
It’s the player of the match adjudicator I feel for. Laura Wolvaardt hit an astonishing 169 and now Marizanne Kapp has figures of 6.2-2-20-4.
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30th over: England 144-5 (Wyatt-Hodge 22, Dunkley 2) Tryon hurries through another thrifty over, with just a single to Dunkley off the last ball. England are cooked now: they need 176 from the last 20 overs. And Kapp can bowl four of them.
29th over: England 143-5 (Wyatt-Hodge 22, Dunkley 1) Sciver-Brunt played beautifully but she was undone by a true champion. It was a superb delivery from Kapp, fullish and with just enough seam movement to take the edge.
Kapp almost takes her fourth wicket when Sophia Dunkley is dropped by the keeper Jafta, a tough chance diving to her right.
A killer blow for England. Sciver-Brunt tries to work Kapp to leg and gets a thin edge through to Jafta. Kapp yells with delight, knowing that is worth two or three wickets – and that South Africa are on the brink of reaching their first ODI World Cup final.
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WICKET! England 138-5 (Sciver-Brunt c Jafta b Kapp 64)
Marizane Kapp has done it!
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28th over: England 138-4 (Sciver-Brunt 64, Wyatt-Hodge 18) Wyatt-Hodge thwacks Tryon inside-out over extra cover for four. She’s such a dangerous player. Later in the over Sciver-Brunt hits a forehand pass that is marvellously stopped by the sprawling de Klerk on the boundary; that saved two runs, and South Africa might need them.
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27th over: England 130-4 (Sciver-Brunt 61, Wyatt-Hodge 13) A statement of intent from Wyatt-Hodge, who glides Kapp’s first ball beautifully for four. Three singles make it a decent over for England, even if the required rate is now 8.26 per over.
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Marizanne Kapp is coming on to bowl. This, right here, could be the game.
26th over: England 123-4 (Sciver-Brunt 60, Wyatt-Hodge 7) “The one I have never understood is when someone ‘cloths’ the ball?” says John Starbuck. “Where did that come from? PS Tony Blackburn, in true Fast Show Smashie and Nicey style, used to ask, in hope more than expectation, ‘Is there anybody out there?’ because no calls to his broadcasts invalidated his work, he reckoned. Steer clear.”
You should send that to ‘Ask Steven’ on Cricinfo.
25th over: England 119-4 (Sciver-Brunt 58, Wyatt-Hodge 5) Sciver-Brunt smashes a pull on the bounce to deep square, where the substitute Shangase does superbly to save three runs.
At the same stage, South Africa were… 119 for 2.
Sciver-Brunt dropped on 54!
24.2 overs: England 115-4 (Sciver-Brunt 56, Wyatt-Hodge 4) Sciver-Brunt muscles Luus towards straight midwicket, where Brits leaps to her left but can’t hang on to a very tough one-handed chance.
Brits fell awkwardly on her right wrist and is leaving the field for treatment.
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24th over: England 112-4 (Sciver-Brunt 54, Wyatt-Hodge 3) England’s task is to take this as deep as possible. Even, say, 100 off the last 10 overs with four wickets remaining would give them a chance, provided one of those four is Sciver-Brunt.
23rd over: England 109-4 (Sciver-Brunt 53, Wyatt-Hodge 1) Sciver-Brunt also reached her fifty in that Luus over, driving majestically over mid-off for six. Capsey tried to play a similar stroke and was caught.
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WICKET! England 108-4 (Capsey b de Klerk b Luus 50)
Alice Capsey has thrown it away! After playing with such maturity to reach her maiden ODI fifty, she drove Luus straight to mid-off and was safely caught by Nadine de Klerk. Capsey walks off with her head down after a frustrating end to an otherwise fine innings. Blame it upon a rush of blood to the head.
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22nd over: England 99-3 (Sciver-Brunt 45, Capsey 49) Another left-arm spinner, Chloe Tryon, replaces Mlaba and concedes only a couple from her first over. Capsey is frustrated when she mistimes a wide ball straight into the ground.
“Is there some sort of contest amongst OBOers to use the widest variety of terms for hitting the ball?” writes Andy Pechey. “Tanya had shots being mangoed, frying panned, baguetted, etc., so I’m looking forward to what variety you can conjure up. (Might be all we have to enjoy!)”
I’m afraid Tanya is miles better than me in this department (and most others). But I’ll see what I can find in my urban Roget.
21st over: England 97-3 (Sciver-Brunt 45, Capsey 47) Sciver-Brunt blasts Luus down the ground for four to continue England’s revival. Her ability to compartmentalise her batting – after the utter chaos at the end of South Africa’s innings and the start of England’s – is extraordinary.
20th over: England 90-3 (Sciver-Brunt 40, Capsey 45) Nasser Hussain, commentating on TV, is critical of Mlaba for bowling a straight, defensive line. She is one of South Africa’s main wickettakers, and on paper should trouble Capsey in particular, but for now she seems happy to go at four or five an over without taking a wicket.
19th over: England 87-3 (Sciver-Brunt 39, Capsey 43) Four singles from Luus’s over. The most impressive thing about this partnership has been its calmness; England still have loads to do but at 1 for 3 they could have fallen apart.
“Yes, Rob,” writes John Starbuck. “There are some of us out here and reading in almost despair. Heaven forfend you should try to imitate Tony Blackburn though.”
I have no idea what that means, John, so I’ll just nod politely like people do in noisy pubs when they didn’t hear what the other person said to them.
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18th over: England 83-3 (Sciver-Brunt 37, Capsey 41) South Africa decide against an LBW review when Capsey misses a sweep off Mlaba. It didn’t feel right. They could do with a wicket because England are inching their way back into this game; Capsey ends Mlaba’s over with a firm sweep round the corner for four.
17th over: England 74-3 (Sciver-Brunt 34, Capsey 36) Marizanne Kapp, who was off the field for longer than I expected, is back on now.
A rank bad ball from Luus is swept over short fine leg for four by Capsey, who then takes a very tight single on the leg side. Sciver-Brunt dives to make her ground – but she would have been in serious trouble with a better throw to the keeper.
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16th over: England 67-3 (Sciver-Brunt 33, Capsey 30) Two from Mlaba’s over, most of which was spent trying to process the drama of that double reprieve.
It’s a good time for a drinks break, in fact. England need 253 from 204 balls and are still in the World Cup, just about.
Capsey and Sciver-Brunt almost out off the same delivery
15th over: England 65-3 (Sciver-Brunt 32, Capsey 29) Spin from both ends now, with Sune Luus replacing de Klerk (3-0-20-0). Capsey is dropped at long-on, a routine chance to the substitute Nondumiso Shangase, and Sciver-Brunt is almost run out off the same ball.
Shangase dropped the catch and hurled the ball into Luus, who broke the stumps with Sciver-Brunt scrambling to make her ground. She was just home. But Luus was not standing right by the stumps and had to reach to break the wicket – had she been over the stumps, Sciver-Brunt would have gone.
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14th over: England 59-3 (Sciver-Brunt 30, Capsey 25) A hint of turn for Mlaba, though nothing dramatic at this stage. A poor ball outside leg stump is pounced upon by Sciver-Brunt, who sweeps it round the corner for four with feeling. She has 30 from 42 balls, Capsey 25 from 36.
13th over: England 53-3 (Sciver-Brunt 26, Capsey 24) Sciver-Brunt sweeps the medium pace of De Klerk emphatically through midwicket for four. That also brings up a very composed fifty partnership with Capsey. While Sciver-Brunt is at the crease…
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12th over: England 46-3 (Sciver-Brunt 21, Capsey 22) Time for Nonkululeko Mlaba. This is a test for Capsey, whose record against left-arm spin in ODIs is really bad. I forget the extra figure but it’s not good.
A quiet start, four singles from the over.
11th over: England 42-3 (Sciver-Brunt 19, Capsey 20) De Klerk is too straight to Capsey, who touches the ball very fine for four. For a 21-year-old playing her first ODI World Cup semi-final, and having come to the crease at 1 for 3, she is batting superbly.
10th over: England 34-3 (Sciver-Brunt 17, Capsey 15) Close! Sciver-Brunt tries to drive Khaka and dragsthe ball past leg stump for a single. Capsey walks down the track and edges Khaka wide of the keeper for four; that’s her first false stroke I think.
England are still in all sorts – they need 286 from 240 balls – but they’ve recovered well after collapsing to 1 for 3.
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9th over: England 29-3 (Sciver-Brunt 16, Capsey 11) Nadine de Klerk replaces Kapp, who is heading off the field after an immense spell of 4-2-8-2. She doesn’t look in any distress so I’m sure she’ll be back.
Sciver-Brunt reaches to drive the third ball through the covers for four, a shot of class and authority. She plays a similar stroke next ball, but this time Dercksen swoops to her right to make a fine stop.
De Klerk and Jafta appeal for a catch down the leg side when Sciver-Brunt flicks at a loose delivery. Nobody else is interested.
8th over: England 24-3 (Sciver-Brunt 11, Capsey 11) A wide ball from Khaka is blasted through backward point for four by Capsey. Given the situation, she has started with an impressive calmness. South Africa might turn to Nonkululeko Mlaba sooner rather than later as Capsey has a very poor record against left-arm spin.
7th over: England 20-3 (Sciver-Brunt 11, Capsey 7) Sciver-Brunt chases a wide half-volley from Kapp and is beaten. Given how well Kapp has bowled so far, you’d imagine that was deliberate; the knowing smile on her face also suggests as much.
NSB edges for four later in the over – there is a slip but it was well wide of her. England are in so much trouble it’s not even funny. And yet, while Sciver-Brunt is at the crease, a miracle is always possible.
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6th over: England 15-3 (Sciver-Brunt 7, Capsey 6) Sciver-Brunt threads Khaka nicely through extra cover for four her first boundary. England have stopped the bleeding; now they just need to score 305 from 44 overs.
5th over: England 10-3 (Sciver-Brunt 3, Capsey 5) Kapp finally concedes some runs off her 15th delivery when Sciver-Brunt, on the walk, forces a couple through the covers. The ball isn’t moving all over the place – but it’s doing enough, and her line and length are relentless.
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4th over: England 7-3 (Sciver-Brunt 1, Capsey 5) Khaka started with a wide but has been good since then. The required rate is already pushing seven an over but England can’t even think about that at the moment. Their route to victory (I know, I know) involves seeing off the new ball and teeing off in the last 15-20 overs. Nat Sciver-Brunt needs to score 170 not out, basically. No pressure.
3rd over: England 5-3 (Sciver-Brunt 0, Capsey 4) Sciver-Brunt takes no risks at all against Kapp, who thus bowls a second maiden. Her figures are the stuff of fantasy: 2-0-2-2.
This is shaping up to be one of the greatest World Cup turnarounds in any sport. Twenty-five days ago, South Africa were bowled out for 69 by England, who won by 10 wickets with 214 balls to spare.
2nd over: England 5-3 (Sciver-Brunt 0, Capsey 4) Alice Capsey, promoted to No5, blasts her first ball for four and defends the rest of the over.
Remember how everyone thought England had got the best possible semi-final opponent?
Ayabonga Khaka started her spell with a wide, which at least got England on the board. The first legal delivery was back of a length and shaved the edge as Beaumont tried to force the ball through the off side. Beaumont reviewed with a nervous look on her face; technology showed a thin but undeniable edge.
A few minutes ago – that’s how it feels – South Africa were 202 for 6 and in a bit of trouble. Now they are all over England like a cheap cliche.
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WICKET! England 1-3 (Beaumont c Jafta b Khaka 0)
This is astonishing. England’s top three have all been dismissed for nought!
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1st over: England 0-2 (Beaumont 0, Sciver-Brunt 0) Nat Sciver-Brunt, whose head must be on a spin cycle, defends the last ball of the over. A double-wicket maiden from Kapp!
“Don’t want to be too negative and England could still chase this down but I am intrigued as to where you think England would go from here should they lose?” writes Will Padmore, or rather wrote Will Padmore befoer they lost two wickets for nought. “A loss would reflect the recent trend of failure to perform when there is any sort of pressure on the match yet England’s best performers this World Cup have generally been the players closer to the end of their careers. Sciver-Brunt, Beaumont, and Knight unlikely to make the next World Cup yet take them out of this team and it looks so much worse. Does it get worse before it gets better?”
The bowling attack looks fine in the long-term, despite what happened today, and there are batters like Davina Perrin to come in. There will be a bit of transition I’m sure, but with England’s resources I can’t see them falling too far.
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Heather Knight reaches for a wide delivery, feet stuck in cement, and drags it back onto the stumps. Kapp screams so hard with delight that she almost falls over. Champions deliver when it matters most; Marizanne Kapp’s first over has put South Africa on the cusp of their first ever ODI World Cup final.
WICKET! England 0-2 (Knight b Kapp 0)
Scenes upon scenes in Guwahati!
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WICKET! England 0-1 (Jones b Kapp 0)
Sensational bowling from Marizanne Kapp! Her second ball jags back through the gate to hit off and middle stumps. That delivery was as near perfect as dammit: the length was spot on and it came back a mile off the seam. Jones pushed defensively and was beaten all ends up.
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It’s nearly time for the England innings. Under normal circumstances the openers would be fairly content to see off Marizanne Kapp’s new-ball spell. Tonight, dear reader, England don’t have that luxury.
Thanks Tanya, hello everyone. England fans may have to harness their hopes after that astounding innings from Laura Wolvaardt. Numbers can’t do it justice but one statgasm is too good to ignore: at one stage, towards the end of her innings, Wolvaardt smashed 49 runs from 13 balls. Thirteen balls.
England can still win this – but they need to do serious damage to the record books. The highest target they’ve chased to win in an ODI is 264 against Australia in 2023; tonight they need 320.
England need 320 to win
Wow. Outstanding from Wolvaardt, who held together a soggy bread and butter innings from South Africa whilst simultaneously wiping England all over the ground. Exemplary movement through the gears. And just so good to watch.
Pre-match favourites England will need their highest second-innings total to win an ODI if they are going to take this one down. Thank you for your emails and over to Rob to see this one home.
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50th over: South Africa 319-7 (Tryon 33, de Klerk 11) Bell gets the short straw and the final over. Starts with a pukka slower ball but then de Klerk marmalades her through extra cover for four, and then steps wide to flaps over her shoulder and the ball wins the chase with Ecclestone. A single to finish, 12 from the over and England have a massive chase. This is South Africa’s highest WC scores, and Wolvaardt’s 169 is the highest WC score by a South African.
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49th over: South Africa 307-7 (Tryon 32, de Klerk 1) Tryon puts her foot on the accelerator – Bang, four slog-swept. Bang – four mangoed through the covers. Bang – six to punctuate the over, over the head of Dean at long-on, whose frantic back-pedalling is in vain.
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WICKET! Wolvaardt c Capsey b Bell 169 (South Africa 291- 7)
With just two overs left, Wolvaardt finally falls – another gorgeous looking drive but this time straight to Capsey at long on. Bell runs to pat her on the back, as do many other England players. Gorgeous, gorgeous innings.
48th over: South Africa 291-7 (Tryon 18) Tryon joins the party, a slower ball smoked for four. The final run collection on her shoulders now.
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150 for Wolvaardt!
47th over: South Africa 284-6 (Wolvaardt 168, Tryon 13) Smith in the firing line. Wolvaardt blazes past 150 with six over long on. Four follows immediately, a legside ball sent on its way. And another, driven just passed the outstretched hand of a sprinting Wyatt-Hodge on the rope. And slam pulled behind square for four more. Runs, percentages. slipping through England’s fingers. Wolvaardt has hit 50 off her last 14 balls.
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46th over: South Africa 264-6 (Wolvaardt 149, Tryon 12) NSB opts to bowl herself again. But Wolvaardt is ready – a juicy full delivery shazamed through midwicket for four first ball. More shimmied singles then another six, pumped high by Wolvaardt into the legside. Fourteen from the over. Glorious by the captain.
More anthem chat. Hello again John Starbuck: “The need for an England-only anthem comes up every now and then. Many people opt for ‘Greensleeves’ but it sounds a bit too like an ice-cream van, and ‘Jerusalem’ is too hackneyed, so I’d prefer Billy Connolly’s choice: the Archers theme, sung as rumpty-tumpty-tumpty-tum etc”
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45th over: South Africa 250-6 (Wolvaardt 138, Tryon 9) Wolvaardt is purring now, every whisker at high alert. She baguettes four to the midwicket boundary – the ball flying almost into Dunkley’s hand – a demi-semi chance. Then another, four through the covers with a pop of a cork.
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44th over: South Africa 238-6 (Wolvaardt 128, Tryon 6) Tryon nearly throws herself on the ground trying to swing at a NSB bouncer but it is called wide. She then almost removes NSB’s head by smashing her down the ground. Wolvaardt goes harder six smashed over long on, then four pulled gloriously square. Fifteen from the over.
43rd over: South Africa 223-6 (Wolvaardt 115, Tryon 6) South Africa survive Ecclestone’s last over by not doing anything stupid. NSB accedes to Ecclestone’s half-hearted request for an lbw review against Tryon. To no-one’s surprise, it isn’t out, and Ecclestone finishes with a fabulous 4-44.
42nd over: South Africa 218-6 (Wolvaardt 113, Tryon 3) Ten from Dean’s over – a scattering of singles and six flayed over long on by Wolvaardt.
41st over: South Africa 208-6 (Wolvaardt 105, Tryon 1) After the wicket, a wide, a single and a swept four as Wolvaardt continues to carry the innings. Will South Africa be able to survive Ecclestone’s last over.
“England and the English need a sporting anthem for ourselves - GSTK is a British or UK anthem. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all have their own anthems. Why don’t we?” Good question Nick Terdre,, though to be fair to the ECB, they have adopted Jerusalem (though England draw from the whole UK) and Jerusalem has been England’s anthem at the Commonweath games for the last 15 years.
”And personally I take no pleasure in a song directed at one man or woman- what about the rest of us?
(PS I’ve a feeling this may be South Africa’s day.)“
WICKET! Dercksen b Ecclestone 4 (South Africa 202-6)
A collapsed lung of a reverse-sweep as Dercksen directs the ball into her own stumps.
A hundred for Laura Wolvaardt
40th over: South Africa 202-5 (Wolvaardt 101, Dercksen 4) Brilliant from Wolvaardt – her first World Cup hundred – gets there with a sprinted second. her teammates rise as one in the dugout, She takes off her helmet and gets a huge hug from Dercksen.
“Tanya,” hello Andy Pechey. “At what point does a dropped catch become a great stop?” It’s all in the eye – and generosity – of the observer.
39th over: South Africa 195-5 (Wolvaardt 97, Dercksen 1) South Africa survive Ecclestone’s eighth over – just two singles from it.
“I think most stadiums in India have a capacity of more than 30000, to accommodate the Men’s game which has a lot of spectators,” writes Arul Kanhere. “Grounds with less seats might not have enough amenities to host a World Cup game. Small mercy its not in Ahmedabad.” Thanks Arul – have you been surprised that the stadiums are not more full for neutral games?
38th over: South Africa 193-5 (Wolvaardt 96, Dercksen 0) Reward for Bell and a beef-up after that dropped catch. Just one run from it, a wide. She also clonks Dercksen on the helmet, but she’s all smiles as the the physio asks her what day of the week it is.
WICKET! Jafta b Bell 1 (South Africa 192-5)
Jafta retreats mouseishly, and the ball waves passed the outside edge to clonk middle and off stumps.
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37th over: South Africa 192-4 (Wolvaardt 96, Jafta 1) Kapp had just flayed a loose ball from Ecclestone through the covers for four. Crazy shot – if she and Wolvaardt could have just stayed together….
WICKET! Kapp c Dean b Eccletone (South Africa 191-4)
Kapp goes for the sweep but top edges, Dean holds on with open mouth, hands high and backwards above her head. Ecclestone again with the breakthrough. Kapp curses her way off the pitch.
36th over: South Africa 187-3 (Wolvaardt 96, Kapp 38) A chance – dropped! Really hard – chipped by Kapp, on 36, and a flying Bell gets a left hand to it but can’t hold on as she falls awkwardly to the ground. Beaumont goes to her straight away to keep spirits up, but actually I think she jarred her body as she fell. The physio provides water and, I think , paracetemol. Dean continues. Five singles from it.
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35th over: South Africa 182-3 (Wolvaardt 94, Kapp 35) South Africa fancy Capsey. Five singles and a four, swivel-pulled by Wolvaardt as she eases into the nervous nineties.
“This is the partnership, isn’t it Tanya.” It sure is Guy Hornsby. “Wolvaardt has looked in superb nick this tournament (and I’ve a soft spot for her as a former Manchester Original, watching her smoke 4s with my daughter at Old Trafford at her first ever game two years ago). Kapp is arguably their best player, so you feel if this is together at the 40th over England will be back in a pickle. I’m saying this as I’m at work and checking in online, but as we’ve all done over the years, it’s almost more nervy doing that when you’re the equivalent of waiting for Ceefax page 341 to update. Niche reference for all our long-suffering England fans of a certain age.”
Funnily enough my best memory of Ceefax watching is during the India-Australia series of 2001.
34th over: South Africa 173-3 (Wolvaardt 88, Kapp 32) Kapp, eyes in concentrated slits, drops to one knee and shovels six over long on. Dean pulls it back but still leaks a single from every other ball. Eleven from the over, the partnership 52 from 54 deliveries and they take DRINKS.
33rd over: South Africa 162-3 (Wolvaardt 86, Kapp 23) Capsey gets her first over of the innings. South Africa are watchful, but tick a single from every ball.
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32nd over: South Africa 156-3 (Wolvaardt 83, Kapp 20) A moment of excitement as Kapp sweeps and gloves the ball over Jones’s head. Otherwise just two steady singles off Dean.
31st over: South Africa 153-3 (Wolvaardt 81, Kapp 19) Four singles from Smith’s over. The ground certainly isn’t heaving with spectators, though with a capacity of 46,000 it is hard to gauge exactly how many are in. You do wonder why the BCCI chose such huge stadiums if they weren’t going to be able to sell the tickets to get anywhere near filling them. But everything was very last minute.
30th over: South Africa 149-3 (Wolvaardt 79, Kapp 17) And now time for Charlie Dean. Wolvaardt eyes up a full toss, shimmies and flays her through those welcoming covers. The next floats legside, Wolvaardt helps it on its way and only a tumbling Beaumont prevents another four.
29th over: South Africa 141-3 (Wolvaardt 72, Kapp 16) Smith on the money once more, just a single from it.
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28th over: South Africa 140-3 (Wolvaardt 71, Kapp 16) Not NSB’s best over. Another wide, and two fours for Kapp – an edged four and a stonking cover drive.
At the current run rate, South Africa’s projected score is 250.
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27th over: South Africa 125-3 (Wolvaardt 70, Kapp 6) More mixing up of the bowlers. NSB reaches for Smith – three singles from it.
Hello Andy Roberts:“In far North Qld reading along to see who Australia will be playing in the final. But saw in the OBO you rated the Australian national anthem and I was shocked. I’m Australian and I can happily admit it is a shocker. If you want a good national anthem, try the Kiwi (NZ) one, it’s brilliant with both the English and Maori verses. It’s a pity their sports teams aren’t more successful so we can hear it more often!”
I do like the Kiwi one, but there is just something about the Australian one which makes me think of sunshine and beaches and … perhaps it is just heading into the British winter.
26th over: South Africa 125-3 (Wolvaardt 68, Kapp 5) South Africa have slipped from a cruise-control 116-0 to lose three for three. These two batters hold the game in their hands. Kapp, experience seeping out of every pore, coolly drives her first ball, a fat half volley, through the covers for four.
WICKET! Luus b Sciver-Bunt 1 (South Africa 119-3)
More bails flying. This time Luus pulls with soldier feet and chops on to the stumps. Wolvaardt can only stand and watch.
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25th over: South Africa 119-2 (Wolvaardt 67, Luus 1) Ecclestone follows up her two-wicket fifth over with a maiden sixth. At the half way stage, things are up in the air though South Africa will need to get a hurry on.
24th over: South Africa 119-2 (Wolvaardt 67, Luus 1) Bell again, much neater in her second spell.
Good morning John Starbuck. “As I learned the other day from a repeat of Qi, God Save The King’s tune was originally the anthem of Liechtenstein. A little undignified of the British, I suspect.”
I would love to see a competition for a new one but it would inevitably turn into some culture war nightmare. At least GSTK is a short dirge. With good drums.
23rd over: South Africa 116-2 (Wolvaardt 64, Luus 0) The Anneka Bosch experiment, brought in for the semi-final, is a fail. Two wickets for Ecclestone, shoulders now liquid, and England are suddenly on top.
WICKET! Bosch b Ecclestone 0 (South Africa 116-2)
Bosch goes on the attack, suddenly, flamboyantly, but misses and loses her off stump. The arm ball deceives.
WICKET! Brits b Ecclestone 45 (South Africa 116-1)
Oh dear. Brits inevitably falls to an every-draw-open-on-a-chest-of-drawers reverse-sweep. Ecclestone slots one under the bat and into the stumps.
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22nd over: South Africa 115-0 (Wolvaardt 64, Brits 45) Bell’s over starts economically with three dots, but the fourth lands invitingly in the slot and Brits makes room and savages it back over Bell’s head.
21st over: South Africa 111-0 (Wolvaardt 64, Brits 41) Brits tries another stroke down on her knees, a sweep – time to give this one up – and is clonked on the forearm. Gets some treatment and dances down the wicket to Ecclestone’s next ball and frying pans her down the ground for six.
20th over: South Africa 103-0 (Wolvaardt 63, Brits 34) Bell returns. On point. Just a single and a bouncer wide.
19th over: South Africa 101-0 (Wolvaardt 62, Brits 34) Brits sweeps, conventionally this time, and picks up four. Ecclestone puts her hands to her head – a last ball boundary.
“I think,” writes Arul Kanhere, “the Indian Anthem deserves a mention.” Just reminded myself of it – very perky. Also a shout out for Germany.
18th over: South Africa 93-0 (Wolvaardt 59, Brits 29) Wolvaardt is getting into her work. Dean’s first ball is fired back the way it came, her second, wider, is inevitably glided through cover for four more. This is her fourth fifty of the tournament. They take DRINKS with South Africa on top.
Fifty for Laura Wolvaardt
17th over: South Africa 84-0 (Wolvaardt 50, Brits 29) Prematch, NSB did admit it was a risk picking Ecclestone – will it pay off? Her shoulders looks more liquid here, but we’re not getting a close up of her face so I can’t report on any grimaces. Three singles and another Brits reverse-hack fails to bring any reward.
16th over: South Africa 82-0 (Wolvaardt 49, Brits 28) Just two from Dean’s over.
15th over: South Africa 80-0 (Wolvaardt 48, Brits 27) NSB summons her big gun. Ecclestone, shoulder good enough to play. Tall, imposing, ball release high, but she’s slow and doesn’t look entirely happy. Wolvaardt sweeps four to bring up 5000 runs in ODIs. And is nearly stumped from the last ball, immaculate gloves from Jones but her foot is in the crease.
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13th over: South Africa 74-0 (Wolvaardt 43, Brits 26) Wolvaardt and Brits ease past South Africa’s total in their first game against England. A pocketful of singles and a thudding Britts boundary that flies over mid off,
13th over: South Africa 67-0 (Wolvaardt 41, Brits 21) A decent bouncer restricts Brits, but they still milk five singles off NSB’s over.
12th over: South Africa 62-0 (Wolvaardt 36, Brits 20) Time for Charlie Dean, and very neat she is too, troubles Brits who attempts another of those ungainly reverse-sweeps, without success.
11th over: South Africa 61-0 (Wolvaardt 36, Brits 20) Just three singles off NSB.
10th over: South Africa 58-0 (Wolvaardt 34, Brits 19) Another inviting delivery drifts wide of Wolvaardt’s off stump, and another cover drive shimmies for four. Then Brits twinkles down the ground and slams Smith back over her head for four “I’d much rather see her do that – play to her strengths - than those attempted reverse-sweeps” says Hussain.
For the first time in this World Cup, England are wicketless in the power play.
9th over: South Africa 49-0 (Wolvaardt 29, Brits 15) Another wide for NSB, England don’t want to be giving away too many of them. And another wide ball which Wolvaardt once more stamps and slots to the rope.
8th over: South Africa 43-0 (Wolvaardt 24, Brits 15) Better from Smith – Brits tries to milk her for two reverse-sweeps but both look as if she’s trying on an ill-fitting costume. She misses everything with her first, picks up a couple with her second.
Hello Andrew Petchley! “Agreed GSTK is terrible, and that SA one was decent, but who else makes up your top 3 (alongside Italy, obviously)?” I know my ignorance will be exposed here but – in no particular order – Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika, La Marseillaise and Advance Australia Fair.
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7th over: South Africa 41-0 (Wolvaardt 24, Brits 13) NSB brings herself on to replace Bell. Doesn’t leak any boundaries – thanks to a scampering Tammy Beaumont on the rope.
6th over: South Africa 35-0 (Wolvaardt 22, Brits 10) Wolvaardt, who is looking in glorious touch, pings two successive balls from Smith to the rope. A full toss through long off, a pie through the covers. Wolvaardt is not the person to deliver such treats.
5th over: South Africa 27-0 (Wolvaardt 14, Brits 10) A second’s hesitation nearly sends nearly sends Brits home but NSB’s throw isn’t a direct hit. Bell sends down another delivery wide of off stump and Brits slam-bams it through the covers for four. But Bell bounces back with her final ball, a a fruity delivery with extra bounce that flies over Brits’ attempted force.
4th over: South Africa 21-0 (Wolvaardt 13, Brits 6) Neat and tidy from Smith. That Bell semi-drop not withstanding, the BBC report that – stats wise - England are the best fielding team in the competition.
3rd over: South Africa 19-0 (Wolvaardt 12, Brits 5) A half-chance not held. Brits flays Bell back back with fire, through the left hand of her follow through and down to the rope.
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2nd over: South Africa 14-0 (Wolvaardt 12, Brits 1) Thick and filthy cloud hangs over Guwahati, and the lights are on. Smith doesn’t seem to be struggling as she did in her first spell against New Zealand, but she does send down one fat come-and-get-me delivery, which Wolvaardt accepts and dispatches through the covers for four.
Key event
1st over: South Africa 9-0 (Wolvaardt 8, Brits 0) Bell with the new ball. The first lands on a hittable cushion and Wolvaardt, high front elbow, kisses it through the covers for four. The next is wider, similarly inviting, and Wolvaardt throws the bat, the ball flying through where a third slip might have chewed her nails. Four more. Bell tightens her line – and there’s just one more run, from a wide.
Anthems
In the battle of the anthems, a crushing win for South Africa. A jaunty South African one – which must be in the top three world anthems – players with one arm on shoulders, one hand on chest. England line up arm in arm for a rapid rumble of God Save the King.
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The pitch isn’t the same as the one where England skittled South Africa at Guwahati. “Mumbai soil” NSB was told by the the groundsman – and Nasser has had a look. “There was black soil in the first week, it was slow and low. This is a red soil pitch, there will be a bit more bounce, more in it for the seamers.
And Nasser on Nat":“She’s a quietly spoken person, a quiet demeanor about her, she’s authentic. You want someone to be who they are, she is as a captain what she is as a human being. I thought I learnt more about her in the India game by the way she kept her team in that game, the way she chose the 49th and 50th overs, the fielding. [If things get tense today] she can be quiet, she has to have a presence about her.”
NAtalie Germanos has said that the key battle for South Africa is how they bat against the spin – to not be too hesitant. Nasser says that everyone this tournament has played for spin for Smith when there is none.
South Africa XI
South Africa XI: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Tazmin Brits, Sune Luus, Annerie Dercksen, Marizanne Kapp, Anneke Bosch, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba
England XI
England XI: Amy Jones (wk), Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight, Nat Sciver-Brunt (capt), Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell
England win the toss and will bowl! Ecclestone fit.
Nat Sciver Brunt bats: “I think putting the pressure on them with the bat, and under lights it will be easier to chase. Hold your nerve, trust the process, acknowledge the occasion and have a great time.”
And they are unchanged – Ecclestone is fit! If playing through a bit of pain.
Laura Wolvaardt would have bowled too: “But runs on the board aren’t a bad thing. We’re playing an extra batter, it felt like something we’ve needed in the last few games.” Anneke Bosch replaces Klaas.
Preamble
Roll up your sleeves, this is where it gets messy. We’re back in Guwahati, where England sliced through South Africa in the first match of the tournament – all parcelled up and ready to post for 69.
But this time, it’s different. The teams have had nearly a month to adjust to conditions and this is the knock-out – the prize of a final against either India or Australia within touching distance.
History – for what it’s worth. England have beaten South Africa both times they’ve met previously in a semi-final. South Africa have never played in a 50-over World Cup final. England have played in nine, winning four.
Neither side has been at their best this tournament, both have had flashes of brilliance, both have batting line-ups that can topple like dominoes if the big dogs don’t bark. England are obvious favourites, but the cricket gods may know better.
Play starts at 9.30am GMT. Join us, it should be fun.
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