Key events
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
