Well, what a game that was. South Africa looked 30 short at least, but they scrambled so hard in the field and despite handy knocks from Sarah Taylor, Heather Knight and Fran Wilson, it was left to the tail to get the home. Jenny Gunn was superb, then Anya Shrubsole was the unlikely hero, carving her first ball through the offside to seal a win with two balls remaining. Magnificent.
So, as a result, England are in the World Cup final! Sunday, Lord’s, fresh pitch: make sure you watch it. England are a magnificently likeable team, full of fun and flair, talent and tenacity. The best of all that was on show today. A particular highlight for me was Taylor and Tammy Beaumont singing on the balcony at the start of the final over, just trying to lift the tension. Luckily, Shrubsole had it covered.
But who will England play? Australia meet India in Derby on Thursday to decide the second finalist. The OBO will be there, so make sure you join it. It won’t be me, but it will be the OBO. I’ll be on a golf course in Cornwall. Part-timer.
That’s all from me. I’ll leave you with the first take of the man who guided you through the first innings, Vish Ehantharajah. There’ll be more about soon and in the paper tomorrow, no doubt. Drink it in, these are heady times for England women.
Thanks for your company, your emails and your tweets, and I’ll see you on a cricket-themed liveblog very soon indeed.
Go on, take the man up on this...
Right. I still have a spare ticket for the #WWC17 final on Sunday. Anybody want to come?
— Nick (@SharlandNM) July 18, 2017
Dane van Niekerk says her side were 30 short. “Credit to Heather and her team, it was a great game of cricket and I hope the fans enjoyed it.” We sure did.
Heather Knight is chatting now. “We just keep finding ways to win - Jenny Gunn was outstanding wasn’t she? I’d like to say we kept it so close to keep it interesting but, yeah, we didn’t.”
Here’s the obligatory selfie.
#WWC17 finalists! #GoBoldly pic.twitter.com/47eDZdd3Tp
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 18, 2017
Just about regained my breath. Pleased to say that the Guardian sports desk, full as it is with cynical hacks, was in pieces at the end of that game. Wonderful finish, and what an effort from England. Annoyingly, I’m on holiday at Saturday. Would have loved to get myself down to Lord’s, which is officially a sellout!
This, right here, is what this is all about:
THEY WON! That was so tense - well played both teams. Good luck in the final ENG - you've a new 11yo fan! #WWC17
— Rochelle Gale (@Rochelle_Gale) July 18, 2017
The player of the match is Sarah Taylor, for 54 runs, one of the best stumpings I’ve seen and a fantastic run out too. She’s got a nice watch for her efforts
She’s crying. “That was a little bit too tense, wasn’t it?”
Love this tweet:
@willis_macp Exciting end to @cricketworldcup SA v ENG semi-final. C'mon England you can do this - so says my 11yo @BlackhorsePri Daughter!
— Rochelle Gale (@Rochelle_Gale) July 18, 2017
Outkast throw back here!
Sorry Miss Jackson (wooh) and I am for real. Never meant to make your pupils cry, we'd chase this down 99 outta 100 times
— Geyv Kathoke (@geyvk) July 18, 2017
So, apologies for that outburst:
49.4 overs: England 221-8 (Gunn 27, Shrubsole 4) Shortish, wideish, cut hard by Shrubsole and that’s four! She’s the No88 ranked batsman! England win with two to spare! They are in the final at Lord’s on Sunday! Lovely scenes as England’s players congratulate their South African counterparts, who are in floods of tears. A word for them, what an effort.
Updated
England win by 2 wickets!
Anya Shrubsole has nailed Ismail through the covers FOR FOUR and ENGLAND HAVE WON BY TWO WICKETS OH MY WORD!
Wicket! Marsh b Ismail 1 (England 217-8)
The final over begins with Tammy Beaumont and Sarah Taylor dancing and singing to Bruno Mars on the balcony. Pressure What pressure?
The first ball is dropped! Gunn drives hard back at Ismail and she’s dropped it! My word. Tammy and Taylor aren’t singing now.
They scramble a single next ball, to cover. Two required from four.
Marsh has been bowled! Slower ball! Two needed from three and I’m going ball-by-ball.
Updated
49th over: England 216-7 (Gunn 26, Marsh 1) Daniels returns. Gunn can only find backward point off the first ball, but they scamper one off the second. Five required. She finds backward point too. Dot. The next is squirted very fine off the outside edge and they get another. Four to get! Gunn finds cover. Four from seven. Again, squirted fine! They get one more:
England need three from the last, bowled by Ismail, with Gunn on strike.
Wicket! Wilson c Chetty b Kapp 30 (England 213-7)
48th over: England 213-7 (Gunn 24) Kapp’s back for her last over, because she’s class. Wilson is very gurny as the bowler approaches but she squirts a single behind square on the offside. Gunn, as she tends to, drills down the ground and they take another. Wilson uses her go to third man area for another, before a brilliant yorker prevents Gunn from scoring. She digs the next out though, again to long-on, and England are within a stroke.
Oh my, what a catch! Wilson has gone for her reverse ramp again, not quite got it, and Chetty, the keeper who has had a tough day, leaps like a salmon and takes a catch above her head!
England need six from 12 balls.
South Africa need three wickets.
47th over: England 209-6 (Wilson 28, Gunn 22) Tip and run for Gunn at the start of Ismail’s over, as she drives to mid-on and sets off. The throw misses, and they run an overthrow! The throw doesn’t miss this time - is this out? they are going upstairs, and she’s safe! Phew. She plays and misses the next then clobbers down the ground for four! Jenny Gunn, you hero. And that’s four more! This is almost swept in front of square, and there’s nothing the fielders can do. The last is a dot.
Huge over, and England need 10 from 18!
Updated
46th over: England 199-6 (Wilson 28, Gunn 12) Daniels again, and there’s a single from each of the first two. Fine by England. I get the impression Gunn, who lofted into the legside for hers, likes the left-arm angle. Another drop into the offside for one for Wilson, then a clobber to long-on from Gunn. This is fantastic stuff. Crowd right in it! Cries of catch but Wilson’s evaded backward point when throwing the hands and that’s four! Dot from the last and...
England need 20 from 24 balls!
45th over: England 191-6 (Wilson 22, Gunn 10) Kapp time. And she’s been sent through midwicket for four by Jenny Gunn with a whippy wallop! Next ball Kapp overcorrects and it’s easily stroked through cover for one. Wilson can’t squirt to third man, but Chetty is untidy behind the stick again and they take a bye! Then there’s a tight wide that Kapp is furious about. And another! Is this England’s big over? Maybe not, Gunn pops the next two to backward point and can’t get the last away either. Anyway, a good over from England, and not a great time for SA to give away three extras.
England need 28 from 30 balls. Oh my word, SA were 191-6 from 35 too!
Updated
44th over: England 183-6 (Wilson 22, Gunn 5) Ismail continues, and Wilson knocks her to mid-on for one first ball. Gunn gets the single England need from the next ball too, a squirt to third man. “I’m not enjoying this,” says Charlotte Edwards on comms. It’s great! Wilson finds cover next ball and for the first time England need more than one a ball. 40 from 39. Mmm. 40 from 38 as she finds cover again. Awkward length from Ismail. What a shot! The cajones on Fran Wilson! She’s just ramped over the keeper and found four! Over ends with a dot and the ledger is back at:
England need 36 from 36 and my nerves are shredding.
My San Pellegrino love-in earlier has me in trouble again....
@willis_macp I blame you and your unholy Pellegrino obsession for this collapse: you undermined the resolve of even a real Yorkie - Brunt
— (((Ravi Nair))) (@palfreyman1414) July 18, 2017
43rd over: England 177-6 (Wilson 17, Gunn 4) Gunn dots up first ball, but gets off the mark with two to mid-on, where Ismail misfields. After another dot, the over ends with two more through square-leg.
England need 42 from 42. Eek.
Wicket! Brunt b Daniels 12 (England 173-6)
A cheer goes up as Wilson takes a single to third man off the first ball of Daniels’ over. But next ball Brunt is gone! She’s come down the track to Daniels and been bowled off the pad! Oh dear. Was not at all fluent there Brunt, and England need 46 from 46. This is going down to the wire.
42nd over: England 172-5 (Wilson 16, Brunt 12) England keep finding fielders! Kapp’s driven hard to cover twice, but both times finds the fielder. Finally she gets off strike by driving a full toss to long-off. Relief. There’s a dot for Wilson to backward point, and then Wilson’s underedge bounces over Chetty and they scramble one!
Where’s this big over coming from?
England need 47 from 48.
41st over: England 170-5 (Wilson 15, Brunt 11) Back comes Dane van Niekerk, and her first ball is cut by Wilson and they want two. They settle for one. That WinPredictor thing is all over the shop right now. It fancies England, but only by a tiny margin. They get two from the next, cut hard by Brunt and misfielded a little at cover. Van Niekerk is not happy with that. Brunt soaks up two dots, then misses one. Lovely and flighted that one and she misread the lenth. One from the last.
England need 49 from 54.
Tense.
Updated
40th over: England 166-5 (Wilson 14, Brunt 8) Daniels, the left-armer, is bowling nicely. Changes of pace and length make her tricky to get away, and there are just two from it. England need 53 from 60, and could really do with a big over, I reckon.
39th over: England 164-5 (Wilson 13, Brunt 7) Kapp’s back, and she’s bowling nicely. Three singles are interspersed by three dots.
England need 55 from 66.
The Knight catch! Disclaimer: aggy Vish asked me to put this in.
TEEN WOLV!#WWC17 pic.twitter.com/Ng3olh3Qdj
— Vithushan (@Vitu_E) July 18, 2017
Updated
38th over: England 161-5 (Wilson 12, Brunt 5) Moseline Daniels replaces Luus, and that has to be the right call. Haven’t seen much van Niekerk yet. I expect we will. England take singles, all through cover, off the first four. Then there’s a dot for Wilson to backward point. The England balcony looks extremely nervous, but the dugout, where Jenny Gunn, next in, is sat, looks pretty chilled. Another dot ends the over and...
England need 58 from 72.
37th over: England 157-5 (Wilson 10, Brunt 3) This is tense now. Ismail’s over begins with England requiring 63 from 84. Some ropey timing and some brilliant fielding at backward point means they can take just a lonely Wilson single from it, and they need 62 from 78.
Brilliant interview, this.
Bring it, Brunty #WWC17 https://t.co/b2BogmFpZ7 pic.twitter.com/vhUcKKAyR1
— PhilWalkerAOC (@PhilWalkerAOC) July 18, 2017
36th over: England 156-5 (Wilson 9, Brunt 3) Luus starts her latest with another of her routine Luus ones, and is wided. Brunt gets a legside single to the next, but Wilson’s sweep just finds midwicket. Never mind, that is brilliant next ball! She’s switched up, and guided a reverse sweep past the 45 fielder for four! She sweeps hard for one next ball, then Brunt turns to leg for a single, too. With another swept one for Wilson, there are nine from the over, which is a very good one for England.
35th over: England 147-5 (Wilson 3, Brunt 1) Ismail continues. Wilson bottom edges and it balloons over the keeper for one. Brunt guides to third man and then, as Wilson struggles to time it, there are three dots. Two from it.
Here’s Eddy Nason with a very correct opinion:
Can I just say how much I am loving this England team? Not so much for being accomplished (which they clearly are), but for playing with such an obvious love of the game. If anything will get people interested in playing cricket, you have to think it would be people clearly enjoying playing at the highest level.
Totally agree. Whether they win this or not, they’ve been a far more likeable than most, and far more likeable than they were even a year ago. Credit to Heather Knight: they all seem to genuinely be mates and there’s no hierarchy, by the looks of things.
On a different note....
@willis_macp
— Snow (@itissnow) July 18, 2017
*Chetty sings*
I'm sorry Miss Jackson, woooh!
I'm a bit ill
Never meant to make my bowlers cry
I conceded 12 wides and 4 byes.
Wicket! Sciver b Luus 3 (England 145-5)
34th over: England 145-5 (Wilson 2) Well Sciver and Fran Wilson get themselves moving with singles off Luus’s next three balls. But Sciver’s been bowled off the last, and Luus has two in the over! I said bang, bang. I meant bang, bang, bang. She seems to have been bowled round her legs! Right, England, what are you made of? 74 still required.
Updated
Wicket! Knight c Wolvaardt b Luus 30! (England 142-4)
Right, Luus is back. She starts with an awful, rancid offside wide. Then there’s a dot. And now a full toss, about waist-height, that Knight has pulled straight to square leg! Good catch from #TeenWolv! Knight cannot believe it, and I’m not sure anyone else can, either. SA have gone bang, bang and this game is right on.
Updated
33rd over: England 141-3 (Knight 30, Sciver 2) So Nat Sciver’s in, the World Cup’s darling. Anyway, Ismail’s over is a very good one, and Sciver begins with four dots and then plays the #Natmeg for two! It’s full and on leg-stump, and she’s just slipped it between her legs and down to backward square! Magnificent stuff, and she’s laughing.
78 from 102 required.
Ha. I enjoyed this very much.
@willis_macp @geyvk
— tommybridgford (@tommybridgford) July 18, 2017
Im sorry MissJackson
We elected to fie-eld
Never meant for them to score so much
we're jus 2down + stayin well in touch
Wicket! Taylor run out Van Niekerk 54 (England 139-3)
Oh no! Just as England were looking to slip into cruise control, Taylor has been run out! Kapp is replaced by Ismail, and Knight nudges into the offside, where Dan van Niekerk has pulled off a brilliant direct hit at the striker’s end! They look upstairs but Taylor is out by a mile! Mad run, to be honest.
50 for Sarah Taylor!
32nd over: England 139-2 (Taylor 54, Knight 30) Boom. There goes Heather Knight. Daniels puts it in the slot and gets boshed over midwicket for four. She takes a smart, tight single next ball. Taylor does the same to midwicket, and that’s fifty! It;s taken her 73 balls, and included six fours. Anyway, after another single from Knight, Taylor ends the over by drilling through wide mid-on for another lovely four! 11 from the over...
Updated
31st over: England 128-2 (Taylor 49, Knight 24) Kapp with the soft old ball again. Knight takes one to deep cover, then Taylor defends. Oh, that’s lovely. She steps across her stumps and slides this through square-leg for four! Nicely done. She spends the remainder of the over searching for a single, but she can’t find it. Five from it.
What a good idea this is, as Taylor approaches 50. Magnificent.
@willis_macp In case anyone wanted to see that stumping... https://t.co/dLbS2AQUQ2
— William Hargreaves (@billhargreaves) July 18, 2017
30th over: England 123-2 (Taylor 45, Knight 23) Moseline Daniels returns and starts with a legside wide. Mmm. She recovers well, though, with four dots to Knight. The England skip drives the fifth through cover and takes one, then Taylor has a bit of an ugly swing and can only find midwicket. The over ends with England two closer to 219 than they started it. 96 needed.
29th over: England 121-2 (Taylor 45, Knight 22) Kapp’s back and Taylor’s on the attack! She gets in to position to ramp the short ball very early, and she helps it on its way over the keeper’s head for four! The next is drilled straight to point, where Lee field again. Never mind, Taylor’s swatted a pull through square-leg and that’s four more! You can actually here Taylor laughing on the stump mic as she fails to put away a couple of short, slower ones later in the over. Still, eight from it, and that’s very handy for England, who need just 98 more.
Updated
28th over: England 113-2 (Taylor 37, Knight 22) More from the LuusUnit, who England are just knocking about for now. There are just four singles, and that’s the 50 partnership. Again, though, England can’t wallop the worst ball, the last: Knight drives a half tracker to mid-off.
27th over: England 109-2 (Taylor 35, Knight 20) An outstanding spell from the birthday girl Khaka ends with an over that costs just two singles. 10-2-28-2. What an effort. Bowled through, with 40 dots and just two boundaries.
Hugh Maguire writes: “By all means offer her compliments but don’t offer Miss Jackson Roses”
How do they smell?
26th over: England 107-2 (Taylor 34, Knight 19) Luus starts her second. There’s a single off the first for Taylor, then two dots for Knight, before a handsome sweep straight to the deep backward-square fielder. England can’t get Luus’s luusest deliveries away, as Taylor finds midwicket with a long hop. Over ends with one to long-on.
More Outkast chat with Phil Salmon, who reminds me that “OutKast’s first single was ‘Player’s Ball’. #keepitsimple”
25th over: England 104-2 (Taylor 32, Knight 18) I imagine DvN would live Khaka to bowl for the rest of the innings but, you know, she can’t. She’s got one more after this one. This is another good over, with a wide and three singles the only blots.
24th over: England 100-2 (Taylor 30, Knight 17) A change! On comes one leggies, Sune Luus, for another, DvN. Luus took a five-bag against the Aussies on Saturday, but she didn’t bowl that well. England look like they fancy giving her some taaaaap, but there are just four singles from the over. The last ball is a drag-down that goes so wrong that it nearly bounces twice! Knight can’t get it away. England need 119 from 26.
Lee Smith has sorted our Outkast-based woes. Nicely done.
If you’re looking for Outkast based commentary maybe you should tell Miss Jackson that you like the way she moves
23rd over: England 96-2 (Taylor 28, Knight 15) Better from England to Khaka. A single - to deep cover for Taylor and square leg for Knight - off the first two. After a pair of dots to Taylor, there’s a drive to cover for one and the last sees a drop! Knight throws the hands, gets a very thick edge and it goes sharply to the keeper’s right, but she can’t cling on one-handed! A very tough chance, but a chance nonetheless. Chetty’s been untidy.
22nd over: England 92-2 (Taylor 26, Knight 13) If they are struggling to get Khaka away, England’s milking of DvN is comfy. Three singles start the over, then Knight sweeps again. One to deep cover for Taylor makes it five from the over and the strike pinched by Sarah T.
21st over: England 87-2 (Taylor 23, Knight 11) Khaka is into her seventh over, and she’s not relenting. Very fine spell. And this is a maiden to Knight. Very difficult to get away. 7-2-18-2. 31 dots in there!
Embarrassingly, nor can I.
@willis_macp like how Miss Jackson has signed the ball 'Miss Jackson'. Trying to think of an outkast joke here but nothing springing to mind
— Geyv Kathoke (@geyvk) July 18, 2017
20th over: England 87-2 (Taylor 23, Knight 11) The first half of van Niekerk’s over sees Taylor and Knight just trade singles. Then there’s a dot, and then Knight plays a fine sweep for one. As van Niekerek serves up an ugly full toss, and Taylor swats it through square-leg for four, it’s suddenly a very good over for England! Eight from it.
Updated
19th over: England 79-2 (Taylor 17, Knight 9) Knight plays and misses at the first ball of another fine Khaka over, then gets off strike from the third. Taylor then plays a staggering scoop for two, coming way wide of off stump having been followed by the bowler. One more single makes it four from the over.
Well isn’t this magnificent news?
18th over: England 75-2 (Taylor 14, Knight 8) More van Niekerk after the drinks break. Knight takes one off the first, and the second is a wide, which Chetty misses again. They scamper two extra. Taylor can’t get away for the next four, and looks a touch frustrated. And then the last finds point too. Four from it.
So, England need 148 from 33 at drinks.
17th over: England 71-2 (Taylor 14, Knight 7) Khaka into her fifth. She’s not letting them leave much. Knight starts by defending to cover. The third is angled down to third man for one, then Sarah T drives nicely to cover, where DvN fields well. There’s just the one from the over, and that’s drinks!
Peter Salmon joins me on the fizzy drinks chat. And now we have moved on to the Nazis.
On the fizzy drinks front, I had my first Fanta for twenty years recently – didn’t know it was till around. Astonishing. It’s basically freebasing sugar. And did you know it was invented by Coca-Cola to get around a trade embargo with Nazi Germany, using ‘only ingredients available in Germany at the time, including whey and apple pomace’? I’d be outraged, but perhaps getting Nazis sugared up was a turning point? History, bloody hell.
Ha. I did indeed know this! Loved his Fanta, did Goebbels.
16th over: England 70-2 (Taylor 14, Knight 6) Legspin! It’s van Niekerk first, not Sune Luus. Remarkably, she’s overstepped second ball, from which Knight takes a single. Taylor drills the free hit straight to deep midwicket and they take one. Three dots for Knight, then a single from the last - just defended behind square on the offside.
15th over: England 66-2 (Taylor 13, Knight 4) This is the big partnership. And I don’t fancy they’ll be in a hurry. Taylor’s looking nice and relaxed as she dots up the first five, with the fifth very well stopped at point by Lee. The sixth completes a fine maiden from Khaka, who has two for 14 from four fine overs.
FYI: There will indeed be a super over in the event of a tie.
14th over: England 66-2 (Taylor 13, Knight 4) Well, what a start Khaka has made on her birthday. Daniels is bowling nicely too. Taylor drives her out to the fielder at deep cover for one, then Knight plays and misses at her first ball. It just moved enough. Next ball is wider and is well driven behind point for four of the best. The next is left and the last is fielded at cover and there’s no run.
I honestly have no idea here. Super over?
@willis_macp Here's a non-insult for you, Will: a straightforward question about tournament regulations. Any thoughts? https://t.co/tS67bDJ1LY
— (((Ravi Nair))) (@palfreyman1414) July 18, 2017
Wicket! Beaumont b Khaka 15 (England 61-2, chasing 219)
13th over: England 61-2 (Taylor 12) Trisha Chetty is back. It’s only five minutes since we were told she wouldn’t return! Anyway, good news for SA. Khaka continues, and she’s bowling well. Gets three defensive strokes out of Beaumont before a scampered single to mid-on. Taylor immediately turns over the strike again, and now Beaumont is gone! She’s played all around a straight one and been bowled!
Updated
12th over: England 59-1 (Beaumont 14, Taylor 11) Lizelle Lee looks slightly ungainly behind the first stumps, but this is not her first rodeo: she has kept in 12 ODIs and one T20i before. Anyway, Taylor flicks Daniels elegantly off her pads for two. Later in the over there’s a nice cover drive that finds the fielder, but it doesn’t bring any runs and there are just two from the over.
Lee Smith is putting the boot in to #SellOutWill now:
It is a sad day when we are discussing the gentrification of the cricket journalism with your posh fizzy drinks and such. Mind you if you really want to offend the regulars at the County!Live! blog then declare yourself an ECB’s Hampshire fan!
Don’t worry, I’m no Hampshire fan...
11th over: England 57-1 (Beaumont 14, Taylor 9) Khaka continues to Taylor. After three watchful shots, she tries to guide to third man but gets a very thick edge and it runs away where a slip would be for four! Then they hare a single to cover, and van Niekerk goes for the wild direct hit, and misses! Beaumont would have been out by a mile! Beaumont cuts the last to backward-point.
Ah. No more Chetty.
Trisha Chetty won't return for South Africa behind the stumps - she's receiving treatment for a hand injury. Bit of a blow for them. #WWC17
— Raf Nicholson (@RafNicholson) July 18, 2017
10th over: England 52-1 (Beaumont 14, Taylor 4) Double change, and on comes Moseline Daniels and her left-armers. Dot first up, then a wild bouncer that is called wide. Not a bad option to Beaumont, who skips down. The next two are defended to mid-off. Then Tammy defends the next two to cover. She finds a gap behind point with the last ball and it runs away for four! Nicely played.
I’m copping it from all angles from the county cricket - live! regulars! I’ll add that I’m also very partial to a Rubican and again not fussy about flavours, but mango is a favourite.
@willis_macp Agree with Phil Sawyer. We need our Bacon Butty n Irn Bru Will back, please. #HipsterFreeZone
— (((Ravi Nair))) (@palfreyman1414) July 18, 2017
Lee has kept wicket before...
9th over: England 47-1 (Beaumont 10, Taylor 4) Wonderful Sarah Taylor comes in, but Beaumont’s on strike. She edges her first ball past the 45 fielder, but third man cleans up. Was that catchable? And then that’s a magnificent start for Taylor: she’s creamed her first ball through cover for four. Wouldn’t mind two hours of that right now. Leaves the last.
Odd innings from Winfield: 20 off 43. Looked at the end as if she was just trying to slog her way out of a bit of trouble. Didn’t work.
Wicket! Winfield c du Preez b Khaka 20 (England 42-1 chasing 219)
Ayabonga Khaka is on! She bowled nicely on Saturday, and it’s her birthday! Have a great day, Ayabonga. Same as Nelson Mandela, apparently. She starts well: Beaumont edges to third man for one, then after defending one, Winfield has skied it! Du Preez comes in from cover point and takes a fine catch. South Africa have a wicket, and Khaka has a birthday present.
Updated
8th over: England 41-0 (Beaumont 8, Winfield 20) Interesting. South Africa have begun Kapp’s fourth over with a change of keeper! Lizelle Lee has taken over, because Trisha Chetty has left the field with an injury. She dropped Winfield earlier. Anyway, Kapp’s bowled Winfield a maiden. She’s tried to attack through the offside, but keeps finding fielders. Winfield has faced 41 balls to Beaumont’s nine!
Phil Sawyer is accusing me of selling out during the County Championship’s hiatus.
Chinotto San Pellegrino? You’ve changed since getting onto the international OBOs, Will. On County Cricket - Live! it would be Tizer and a cheese sandwich.
7th over: England 41-0 (Beaumont 8, Winfield 20) Lauren! She’s just walloped Ismail over midwicket for a one-bounce four! Yes please. She takes a single, then Beaumont very nearly chops on - eek - and they take a single to fine-leg. Criminal from Kapp next, as she oversteps, and then oversteps again on the free hit! Miles over! Winfield edged the free hit high for a single. Beaumont’s turn and she pulls it away for four! Do not bowl there. Replay shows she’s overstepped again, but the umpire didn’t spot it! The last is defended, but that over cost 13.
Proof that Edinburgh is the greatest city in the world. Margiottas?
@willis_macp Edinburgh pic.twitter.com/98j5l0f9PW
— Luke 🐐🐈🐙🐝🃏 (@lukeworthington) July 18, 2017
And then I read this and perhaps I should just go seeking this out in London. I mean in Luke’s pic above, they are going for a quid!
@willis_macp £13.61 for 6 cans of those chinotto San pellegrino drinks on Amazon!?!?! You must be paid well for this OBO gig!
— Silver Fox (@SilverFoxZone) July 18, 2017
6th over: England 28-0 (Winfield 14, Beaumont 3) Poor Tammy Beaumont hasn’t had much strike. Keep your patience, Tammy. Winfield facing first up here too, but she guides Kapp to third man second ball. Beaumont defends, then turns to leg for one. Winfield defends, then turns to third man for one. Dot, single, dot, single, dot, single. Strike pinched again!
Good point. Different league.
@willis_macp As though to highlight Taylor's astonishing quality, Cherry starts for SA by having a nightmare behind the stumps.
— (((Ravi Nair))) (@palfreyman1414) July 18, 2017
Chris Joubert, with his strong South African surname, is backing the South Africans.
Have to be behind SA, girls you can do this. Only need discipline in the field and a few early wickets.
They need to tighten up: scrappy start so far.
5th over: England 25-0 (Winfield 12, Beaumont 2) Scrappy from SA. Beaumont gets a single to third man off Ismail’s first, and the second is a full toss, that Winfield pulls for four! Midwicket actually should have stopped that. Better from Ismail thereafter, as Winfield wafts away outside off stump, before guiding the last to third man for one.
Lovely stuff from Ian Copestake:
Because this is a top class international game we are being denied the literary fun of hearing the cry of “bowler’s name please” being answered with “Call me Ismail.”
4th over: England 19-0 (Winfield 7, Beaumont 1) Not sure this is an over Trisha Chetty, the keeper, will want to watch back later. The first ball is a legside wide from Kapp that she can’t cling on to, and they take a run. Then, after Winfield plays and misses outside off then drives to cover, she nicks one! It goes hard to Chetty’s right, but she can’t cling on! Wolvaardt does well to save a couple as it runs away to the fence. The last ball - or at least it should have been the last ball - is another legside wide which Chetty really should stop. She doesn’t though, and it runs away for four more.
Uh oh. We have some bite back on the San Pel issue in my inbox. Andrew Benzeval writes of Chinotto:
I feel I must take issue with Mr Mills regarding the chinotto San Pels; they are a disgrace. The bitterest thing I’ve ever encountered, it’s like root beer with a chicory chaser. What is this madness?
I’m not sure a little bit of negative feedback will prevent me at least trying the stuff.
3rd over: England 10-0 (Winfield 5, Beaumont 1) Oooooof. Wowzer. Winfield defends the first from Ismail, but the second absolutely rips back in and cuts her in half! It beats the keeper too, and runs away to the fence! A little nibble on that, or just byes? Byes, says the ump. But how did that miss the off-stump? A whisker. She’s more cautious thereafter, and there are no more runs from it.
Michael Russell-Yarde to the San Pellegrino based rescue!
Google is your friend... either Amazon or Melbury & Appleton will deliver some Chinotto San Pellegrino.
Wait til the drinks break and I’ll be straight on it...
2nd over: England 6-0 (Winfield 5, Beaumont 1) Beaumont gets off the mark to the second ball of Kapp’s over, with a nudge into the legside and she’s immediately screaming for two but ... they settle for one. Over to Winfield, then. After leaving one outside off stump, the line is tighter and she inside edges on to the pad. Kapp looked excited by that. She then guides it to third man for one, and Tammy leave the last alone. Tight stuff from Kapp, who I imagine is Kappy to her mates.
1st over: England 4-0 (Winfield 4, Beaumont 0) After a staunch defensive stroke, Winfield splits the gap in the covers and England are underway! That whistles away for four! She has to play at the next four, but they’re all defensive strokes. Decent first over from Ismail.
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So Ismail to Winfield to kick things off. Tammy B at t’other end.
An email! From Jonny Mills.
Those San Pelligrino’s really are ace, but as I live in Italy (and have for nearly 26 years now) I’m going to have to ask you whether you can get Chinotto flavour in the UK? It’s a bit like Dandelion and Burdock and is the most refreshing as far as I’m concerned. Cheers fella, come on England!
Oh my word, there’s a flavour I haven’t tried. How do I get this in the UK?!
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Here comes the players then...
Hello! I agree that SA are plenty short.
Not sure who Stuie Neale (a county blog stalwart) is backing, but I reckon it’s got to be England, no?
And of the third question, I reckon only Ben Cox (best in the business these days, I’m afraid, Read and Foster fans) and perhaps one of the two old stagers or Ben Foakes. It’s an outrageous piece of work.
@willis_macp SA are about 40 short here. 2 important questions - who's Stuie supporting and is there a WK in the SCC who could do a Taylor?
— Geyv Kathoke (@geyvk) July 18, 2017
Obviously plenty of people talking about it already, but my word this is magnificent. Get your eyes around it.
So South Africa’s bowlers are out there warming up and marking their run-ups. 10 minutes to go.
An aside, but you know when you develop a brief food or drink obsession and you just can’t stop? In the last week I’ve been all over the San Pellegrino fizzy numbers. Doesn’t matter which flavour - aranciata, limonata, the blood orangey one or the grapefruit beauty. I’m all over it. And right now, a limonata one is livening up an utterly uninspiring lunch. Delicious stuff.
As it says up top, there are a couple of ways you can contact me! I’m emailable on the very cumbersome (although perhaps not as cumbersome as Vish’s one) will.macpherson.freelance@theguardian.com. Or pithier thoughts can be fired to @willis_macp on yer twitters.
Tell me, then: are England gonna be hopping on the rattler to Paddington for the Lord’s final, or are they headed home?
Hello! Happy lunchtime. Will here, to guide you through England’s chase 219. About 20 minutes until Tammy Beaumont and Lauren Winfield head out for that.
I’ve just seen Sarah Taylor’s stumping again. The. Absolute. State. Of. That. Best in the world, bar none.
Right, that’s all from me. Will Macpherson will be here to join you soon. In the meantime, I’m off for some grub. I leave you with some food for thought:
ENGLAND REQUIRE 219 TO REACH THE WORLD CUP FINAL
50th over: South Africa 218-6 (du Perez 76, Luus 21) Fair bit of damage done to England but not so much on the scoreboard as Gunn’s over only leaks six runs. Third ball, Anya Shrubsole stopped a boundary down the ground and ended up in a heap right in front of us. She hobbled away off her left ankle and was unable to see out the over, eventually jumping onto the other side of the boundary before being led away by the England team physio. Chase to begin in 30…
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49th over: South Africa 211-6 (du Preez 75, Luus 15) By the way, that was the first time that Anya Shrubsole has bowled her 10-overs this World Cup (1-33 from them). She’s been carrying an injury from the start and hadn’t had much of a bowl leading up to this. Brunt looks to be closing out in style before du Preez gives herself room and finds a gap through extra cover for four. Class.
48th over: South Africa 203-6 (du Perez 68, Luus 14) A few heaves to the leg side, but none with quite enough minerals to bother the leg-side boundary riders. Misses out on a wicket as an inside edge just passes the stumps but, unluckily for South Africa, it doesn’t race away for four. Those ones usually do.
47th over: South Africa 198-6 (du Preez 65, Luus 12) Brunt returns for her final two as well, from the Ashley Down Road End. She really has come on immeasurably with her variations and she serves up a quality leg break slower ball that totally does Mignon du Perez. Better than Warnie. There, I’ve said it.
46th over: South Africa 195-6 (du Perez 63, Luus 11) Shrubsole returns to the attack to bowl her final two overs. For the most part, all Luus or du Perez can manage are bunts down the ground, where Gunn is a quick, clean worker across the deck.
Great reaction from Heather Knight when Alex Hartley tried to shotput a run out chance...
Something funny, @Heatherknight55? 🙊😂#ENGvSA #WWC17 pic.twitter.com/yLpD7ZotcQ
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) July 18, 2017
44th over: South Africa 191-6 (du Perez 60, Luus 10) Smart from Luus. Knowing Jenny Gunn’s taking pace off the ball and with midwicket free, she stays deep in her crease and hits away to that region for four. She manages a second, too, when Lauren Winfield dives over a straight drive that also finds its way to the sponge. 12 from the over - the most expensive of the innings.
FIFTY FOR MIGNON DU PREEZ
43rd over: South Africa 173-6 (du Preez 50, Luus 2) She’s had to really graft for her half-century, has du Preez: 38 of her runs have come in singles. The rest in fours. With Luus, expect a lot of strike rotation and the odd orthodox shot along the carpet. Luus can strike them well (she might even be a bit low in this order, if you ask me).
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WICKET! Tryon c & b Gunn 1 (South Africa 170-6)
Yeah, mockers on that one quite severe. Tryon as she might, she can’t work to leg and drops her wrists on what should have been a straight drive far too early. Gunn’s got a simple catch to make off her own bowling. No mistake.
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42nd over: South Africa 170-5 (du Perez 49, Tyron 1) Handy cameo from Dane van Niekerk makes way for South Africa’s own master blaster, Chloe Tyron. Loves a biff.
WICKET! Dane van Niekirk run out 26 (South Africa 168-5)
Out by a whisker! England’s ground-fielding has been good for most of this tournament and it’s Nat Sciver who throws this in to the fielder behind the stumps. Dane’s bat is just a touch in the air – we think – and that’s enough for Blocker Wilson to bin her off...
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41st over: South Africa 166-4 (du Perez 47, van Niekerk 26) There we go… first six of the innings! And it’s come from van Niekerk who, above all else, might have the cure for the world’s ailments. Marsh puts one above the eyes and van Niekerk doesn’t blink, skipping to the pitch and slamming it downtown.
40th over: South Africa 157-4 (du Perez 45, van Niekerk 19) Finally, a boundary off Brunt. It was risky for van Niekerk – she was showing all three as she gave herself room to cut on off-stump. But her hands were quick enough to get good contact on the ball and beat backward point. Meanwhile, du Preez, who notched 43 in the group match between these two, goes to her highest score of the World Cup.
39th over: South Africa 152-4 (du Perez 44, van Niekerk 15) The second boundary off Marsh – and a fortuitous one at that. Width offered and van Niekerk swings hard to edge thickly through backward point for four.
38th over: South Africa 145-4 (du Preez 42, van Niekirk 10) Wowser! A maiden from Brunt. It’s a really smart set of six: bowling cutter into the deck, ensuring that both these bats, who aren’t renowned for their hitting, have nothing to work with.
37th over: South Africa 145-4 (du Perez 42, van Niekerk 10) Smart from van Niekerk. No point just rocking back and patting the ball back to fielders inside the ring. So she dips forward and ramps Marsh over her left shoulder for four. It’s the first four Marsh has conceded in her seven overs.
36th over: South Africa 139-4 (du Perez 41, van Niekerk 5) So, to the batting Power Play we go. Time for the big gun. Katherine Brunt returns, armed with a few tricks from the Bristol Pavilion End. Just singles on offer to both du Perez and van Niekerk, as Brunt drifts a touch from a middle and off line.
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Might be the last you see of 18yo Laura Wolvaart for now, but get used to watching her bat for the next 20 years or so. #WWC17 pic.twitter.com/vRltPOmbHJ
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) July 18, 2017
35th over: South Africa 135-4 (du Preez 39, van Niekirk 3) The start of England’s squeeze was instigated by Laura Marsh and she takes us to the batting Power Play with another quiet over that South Africa only get two from. She’s bowled six overs for 15 so far. Quality, understated operator.
34th over: South Africa 133-4 (du Preez 38, van Niekirk 2) Knight keeping herself on. Why wouldn’t you? Captain’s perrogative plus the fact she, basically, took twofer in the previous over. It’s not as good, mind, but neither was that first one. Six runs, no wickets.
33rd over: South Africa 127-4 (du Perez 36, van Niekerk 0) I panned Shrubsole at the start of her spell but she’s really dragged it back brilliantly. She might eve claim an assist for those wickets in the previous over, even if the run out bore her name.
WICKET! Kapp run out Shrubsole 1
32nd over: South Africa 126-4 (du Preez 35, van Niekirk 0) Calamity in the South Africa middle order! What on earth was that?! Kapp gets a full toss first ball and hits it back to Knight, who shells the chance. But no matter, because two balls later du Preez hits straight to cover and runs out Kapp! No need for any of those dismissals and, suddenly, 220 seems that little bit too far away...
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WICKET! Wolvaardt b Knight 66 (South Africa 125-3)
Oh Laura! She’s struggled against spin and, in the first over for Heather Knight, she’s tried to cut a straight ball and lost her middle stump!
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31st over: South Africa 124-2 (Wolvaardt 66, du Perez 34) Another solid over from Shrubsole, somewhat making up for Sciver’s expensive one before. Also, worth keeping an eye on this.
South Africa 121/2 after 30 overs. Their highest 1st innings total vs England is 222. #WWC17 https://t.co/4SwYaJBRW3
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) July 18, 2017
30th over: South Africa 121-2 (Wolvaardt 65, du Perez 32) Shows what I know… Nat Sciver back on to replace Hartley, much to the delight of Wolvaardt. She’s still driving, but there’s a bit more agriculture in her approach: front foot out of dodge and the swing of her bat coming through like she’s slashing through wheat. The first beats mid off but the second is a lot straighter.
29th over: South Africa 111-2 (Wolvaardt 55, du Perez 32) Better from Shrubsole, who bowls a fuller, straight length knowing that both batsmen are wary of coming out of their crease with Sarah Taylor standing up to the stumps. The run rate is just starting to fall...
Between overs, allow me to draw your attention to this superb interview from one of the best in the business. With Derbyshire’s 16-year-old off-spinner Hamid Qadri:
28th over: South Africa 109-2 (Wolvaardt 54, du Preez 31) Looks as though England might bowl Hartley all the way through, which might not be the worst idea. She’s going at over four an over, but isn’t really getting tap since her third over which went for 10. She’s got three more left after this one, which leaks just three.
27th over: South Africa 106-2 (Wolvaardt 53, du Perez 29) Shrubsole replaces Jenny Gunn but immediately offers up a bit of width. For the first time in a while, seemingly, du Preez is able to throw all four-foot-four of her into a cut shot that beats Alex Hartley comfortably at third man.
26th over: South Africa 101-2 (Wolvaardt 53, du Perez 24) Hundred up for South Africa. What’s a good score here? I’m saying 250, which is well within reach.
WOLVAARDT REACHES HER 4TH HALF CENTURY OF THE TOURNAMENT
25th over: South Africa 97-2 (Wolvaardt 51, Du Preez 22) Really bad from Shrusbole. Volvaardt plinks one down the ground and really shouldn’t get a boundary, but Shrubsole is leaden-footed at mid on and can’t gather what should be a simply bounce into her hands.
Wolvaardt gets her 50. A bit chancey, but she'll take it. So will South Africa. #WWC17
— Raf Nicholson (@RafNicholson) July 18, 2017
24th over: South Africa 91-2 (Wolvaardt 46, Du Preez 21) Better from Hartley, certainly more like her former tournament self. Neat changes of pace mean du Preez can’t quite trust herself to plant that front foot and work the ball squarer. Just three from the over.
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23rd over: South Africa 88-2 (Wolvaardt 45, du Perez 19) Tidy from Gunn and Fran Wilson at backward point, who saves some runs with two fine stops. The first might have saved three, as Wolvaardt opens the face into a drive.
22nd over: South Africa 85-2 (Wolvaardt 44, du Perez 17) There’s she goes. Wolvaardt, finally, learns to leave the high elbow back in the box when it comes to the long hop. Hartley serves up one that is clubbed high and down the ground for four. It’s a shot that takes the 18-year-old past 300 runs in the tournament.
Great start from England @Vitu_E, slowly suffocating SA with tight bowling & fielding. Sarah Taylor really is an utter genius, isn't she?
— Guy Hornsby (@GuyHornsby) July 18, 2017
21st over: South Africa 79-2 (Wolvaardt 39, du Perez 16) Jenny Gunn on, who started this World Cup indifferently but has rediscovered her nerve, as evidenced by that last over win against Australia. It does mean pace is back on the ball (ash). However, it’s the running that nearly does for Wolvaardt, as she’s well short of her ground at the bowler’s end when she sets off late for a single.
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20th over: South Africa 75-2 (Wolvaardt 37, du Prez 14) The most expensive over so far, as Hartley is taken for four through cover and straight midwicket by du Preez. That’s how Wolvaardt should be playing those shorter balls.
19th over: South Africa 65-2 (Wolvaardt 37, du Preez 5) Back underway and captain Heather Knight makes a neat change in the field, bringing deep cover back into the circle for Mignon du Preez and dropping back midwicket and backward square leg.
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Drink are being taken, by the way. Meanwhile, Jarrod Kimber is on WolvWatch
#TeenWolv has scored 9 from 29 balls against spin. #WWC17
— Jarrod Kimber (@ajarrodkimber) July 18, 2017
18th over: South Africa 63-2 (Wolvaardt 35, du Preez 4) Twice, now, Wolvaardt has tries to hit short balls from Alex Hartley down the ground. Twice she’s nearly flayed it back to the bowler. There’s no reason why she can smack that through midwicket, but she seems hell bent on hitting in the V.
17th over: South Africa 60-2 (Wolvardt 34, du Preez 2) Very good from England’s spinners, who have tied down Wolvardt and restricted her to just eight from her last 25 balls. Pace off the ball working a treat to her. No need to drop mid on or mid off back until she fancies leaving her crease.
That @Sarah_Taylor30 stumping at full speed, one more time... https://t.co/ADLgIOpUC5
— Andrew Miller (@miller_cricket) July 18, 2017
At the very ground where Russell performed such feats for fun, too...
16th over: South Africa 58-2 (Wolvaardt 33, du Preez 1) Alex Hartley, England’s leading wicket-taker, comes into the attack. She’s mostly operated around the wicket to left-handers and has got the ball to dip and spin away from them. Just one from her over as she ties down Wolvaardt for five. Can she had the opener to her impressive WC hitlist?
Mooney ☝️
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) July 18, 2017
Lanning ☝️
Bates ☝️
Devine ☝️
Matthews ☝️
Will @AlexHartley93 get another big wicket for @englandcricket today?#ENGvSA #WWC17 pic.twitter.com/IBawbCjlWY
15th over: South Africa 57-2 (Wolvaardt 32, du Preez 1) There’s cover out in the deep on the off side for Wolvaardt so those pelasing drives are getting less value. Du Preez drops one into the leg side to get off the mark.
@Vitu_E As I watched I wondered if @Sarah_Taylor30 had made the error of taking the ball in front of the stumps. But no! Not her. #Legend
— (((Ravi Nair))) (@palfreyman1414) July 18, 2017
14th over: South Africa 54-2 (Wolvaardt 30, du Preez 0) Another drive, another boundary for Wolvaardt. Very much playing a lone hand, here. Lone hand from Wolvaardt. Lone Wolvaardt... yeah, you see where this is going...
13th over: South Africa 49-0 (Wolvaardt 25, du Preez 0) Marsh darts and keeps these two honest. Only one from the over, also thanks to some smart fielding.
@Vitu_E Shout out to Yr6 children+staff @BlackhorsePri enjoying today's @ICC SA v ENG semi-final. Fab leavers' treat...C'mon England! #WWC17
— Rochelle Gale (@Rochelle_Gale) July 18, 2017
12th over: South Africa 48-2 (Wolvaardt 24, du Preez 0) Just glorious from Taylor. She’s been up to the stumps all of Sciver’s spell and would have lost sight of the ball as Chetty went down a few paces and tried to get something on that leg side wide.
The lefty PC brigade have ruined cricket by making the best keeper in the world a woman. I won't be watching again. #notmykeeper
— Dave Tickner (@tickerscricket) July 18, 2017
WICKET! Chetty st Taylor b Sciver 15 (South Africa 48-2)
Oh unreal! Absolutely unreal! Sciver arcs one wide down the leg side and Sarah Taylor uses those RIDICULOUS hands to affect a stumping. She loses the ball on contact but there’s enough of it in her gloves to send Chetty packing.
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11th over: South Africa 46-1 (Wolvaardt 23, Chetty 15) Spin right as the Power Play is done. Naturally. It’s Laura Marsh, offies from a medium pacers run (she did bowl medes back in the day). Pace on the ball means Chetty can dab fine (fielder up in the circle) but grand work from Alex Hartley, the most improved fielder at this competition, saves one.
10th over: South Africa 41-1 (Wolvaardt 21, Chetty 12) And there are Chetty’s first runs in front of the wicket... four of them through square leg! Nat Sciver comes on to replace Shrusbole from the Bristol Pavillion End and just over-pitched a touch. She she corrects her line and length, she draws an edge... but with no slip, that’s four more. Power Play done. Tidy from South Africa, for the loss of Lee...
9th over: South Africa 33-1 (Wolvaardt 21, Chetty 4)
Chetty gets her first run not through third man, but it’s still behind square as she lifts a leg in the air and flicks around the corner for one. Later, Teen Wolv thinks she’s pinged a beauty through extra cover but Shrubsole does brilliantly to dive to her left and keep it to one.
8th over: South Africa 30-1 (Wolvaardt 20, Chetty 2) Teen Wolv, doing work. Given a bit of width, she holds her ground and leans into a square drive that takes a wicked skip off the turf to beat Fran Wilson at point. A wristy push down the ground steals one, too.
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7th over: South Africa 22-1 (Wolvaardt 14, Chetty 0) Brunt looks like she’s got Chetty’s number. Bowling wicket to wicket, she’s not really giving the right-hander anything to work with.
6th over: South Africa 21-1 (Wolvaardt 13, Chetty 0) The folly of Lee’s dismissal shown, first ball, she played a nice conventional back cut for four. Why not keep doing that? Trisha Chetty, due a score, comes in at three.
“Morning to Raymond Reardon: “Could you tell me why the half of England’s draw has two extra rest days compared to the other semi-final in two days time, when most other tournaments ( Mens Cricket World Cup, Mens and Womens Football World Cups, Mens and Womens Football European Championships) only provide one extra rest day to the host nation from the beginning of tournaments.” It’s a great point, Raymond. The scheduling of this competition has been pretty poor, truth be told.
WICKET! Lee b Shrubsole 7 (South Africa 21-1)
Shrubsole with the wicket but it’s a gift from Lizelle Lee. On off-stump but treated like a full toss out of the hand of a child, Lee tries to heave it away to square leg and the lights behind her flash orange with doom.
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5th over: South Africa 17-0 (Wolvaardt 13, Lee 3) Thick edge past the outside edge and Brunt is fuming! Couldn’t really do anything about that but Wolvaardt has another boundary...
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4th over: South Africa 13-0 (Wolvaardt 9, Lee 3) Quality from Shrubsole. Had it on a string. Good start from England...
REVIEW... Decision overturned... NOT OUT
Lee is given out LBW as she’s hit on the pads. The umpire gives it out straightaway and Shrubsole gives it the big ones, until she turns around and sees Lee calling for a review. “Oh for f...” she says. That’s the funny thing about reviews in the women’s game – they used to get given some duff decisions and bowlers, for the most part, loved it. Swinging quite far down leg, that.
3rd over: South Africa 13-0 (Wolvaardt 9, Lee 3) Wolvaardt drives everything. Like, everything. She could probably drive a tangerine, if she wanted to. A few on off stump, nowhere near conventional driving length, and somehow she threads a couple through backward point.
2nd over: South Africa 10-0 (Wolvaardt 7, Lee 2) Lizelle Lee plays off her legs weird. She doesn’t try and flick – she sweeps. She tried it the previous over as Brunt went wide down the leg side. To Shrubsole, she does the same and ends up sending a leading edge inside fine leg for a couple.
@Vitu_E Teen Wolv vs The Scivertar. Who will survive?
— Geyv Kathoke (@geyvk) July 18, 2017
It’s the little, little things - but I’m really quite chuffed with this:
The #TeenWolv (© @Vitu_E ) starts the first semi final with a four. #WWC17
— Jarrod Kimber (@ajarrodkimber) July 18, 2017
1st over: South Africa 9-0 (Woolvardt 7, Lee 1) A full toss to start for Katherine Brunt, which Laura Wolvaardt whips that away in front of fine leg for four. One of those deliveries that we (me probably), will over-analyse once the game is done. Nerves? Bottle? Or, you know, just a loosener. The second’s bang on, maybe even straightening a touch to draw a muted appeal.
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South Africa’s openers strolling out to the middle. Can bat:
Lizelle Lee has scored half-centuries – 69 (56); 74 (77); 72 (77) - in each of her last 3 ODI innings vs England. #WWC17
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) July 18, 2017
Marizanne Kapp crying during the South Africa national anthem might have tipped the floating voters. #WWC17
— Vithushan (@Vitu_E) July 18, 2017
A word to the Bristol DJ before we get going. Chaka Khan and a few other classics before Despacito (don’t smirk – cricket’s so far behind with these kind of things. People are still dabbing.)
Me: I'm tired of despacito it's so overplayed
— j (@godstanbieber) July 7, 2017
Also me: pic.twitter.com/ynLtKHzKBk
First email of the day and it’s a hello to Stephen Cooper: “Good morning Vish, must say that I’m really looking forward to today (and tomorrow, and the final of course). We had some great games in the group stage and I’m hoping that the weather is kind to us rather than letting DLS decide the outcome.” It’s set fair for the rest of the day. Sunshine with bits of cloud.
“My one regret thus far is that the Graun didn’t liveblog a few more of the group games.” We would have loved to but Test matches, Wimbledon and the rhythm of life meant we had to stick to England and Australia matches. That you wanted more is only a good thing.
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England bat, Natmeg and all that – but left-arm spinner Alex Hartley (Surrey Stars and Lancashire) has been in belting form for England. Check this hitlist:
Mooney ☝️
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) July 18, 2017
Lanning ☝️
Bates ☝️
Devine ☝️
Matthews ☝️
Will @AlexHartley93 get another big wicket for @englandcricket today?#ENGvSA #WWC17 pic.twitter.com/IBawbCjlWY
Will give you those teams, too. The headlines: England unchanged (if it ain’t broke etc) and South Africa welcome back Chloe Tryon, who smoked a 26-ball 54 here when these two faced-off in the group stages.
England: L Winfield, T Beaumont, S Taylor, H Knight, N Sciver, F Wilson, K Brunt, J Gunn, A Shrubsole, L Marsh, A Hartley
South Africa: L Wolvaardt, L Lee, T Chetty, M du Preez, M Kapp, C Tryon, D van Niekerk, S Luus, S Ismail, A Khaka, M Daniels
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TOSS NEWS! South Africa choose to bat first
England to chase. Hello...
It's time for the 1st semi-final toss! @OfficialCSA have won it and decided to bat first against @englandcricket! #ENGvSA #WWC17 pic.twitter.com/CCYvF6JnFK
— Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) July 18, 2017
Preamble
Well here we are then. The Women’s World Cup semi-final. It feels like it has taken a while to get to this point. Or maybe that’s just me: Derby-Taunton-Leicester-Bristol takes it out of you. Just ask the England players, who have had to hit every ground, more than once, across 22-days. Winning the group and staying in Bristol for a longer period of time has been a godsend. And I can’t really complain – I’ve had a grand old time watching women’s cricket develop up close over the last few years. More trained eyes than mine will tell you it’s in a good state right now. Which brings us to today’s encounter.
England under head coach Mark Robinson and South Africa in the shadows have cultivated big-hitting games of their own (these two have produced 40 of the 97 sixes hit this World Cup). Naturally, it’ll be with the ball that this game is won. No idea how the pitch will play – does anyone, really? Seriously? How much tosh is spoken about pitches? – but it is the one used for England-Australia, which kept everyone in the game. England were genuinely practicing full-tosses yesterday as South Africa’s leggies Dane van Niekirk (captain) and Sune Luus have perfect the art of taking wickets with them. The game moves on, but clubby ways still prevail.
The pacers match up, too: Shabnim Ismail, Marizanne Kapp, Katherine Brunt and Anya Shrubsole are your main attractions, but the left-arm seam of South Africa’s Moseline Daniels is probably worthy of being bumped up into that bracket. Yeah, I’m excited. Europe, anyone?
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Vish will be here shortly. In the meantime, read his scene-setter for today’s semi-final: on tag lines, handling pressure and Teen Wolv:
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