SA fall to England in nailbiter semi

ENGLAND beat South Africa by two wickets with two balls to spare in their World Cup women’s semifinal.

Dane van Niekerk’s team fought hard, but even their high quality attack was always going to struggle to defend the 218/6 their batsmen mustered.

“We were 30 runs short but we went out believing‚” Van Niekerk said afterwards.

England replied with 221/8 to win with two balls to spare and book a berth in the final at Lord’s on Sunday.

Their opponents will be the winners of tomorrow’s other semi between Australia and India in Derby.

Laura Wolvaardt‚ South Africa’s silkily skilled opening there batsman‚ scored a superb 66 and Mignon du Preez an unbeaten 76‚ her highest score of the tournament. The next highest score was Van Niekerk’s 27. England should have won more easily but the South Africans weren’t going to go quietly.

Eastern Cape’s medium pacer Ayabonga Khaka‚ who bowled 10 overs unchanged, took 2/28. One of her victims was Tammy Beaumont‚ the tournament’s leading runscorer‚ who she bowled for 15. — Telford Vice