Defending champions England continued their turnaround to beat South Africa to reach the final of the 2022 Women’s World Cup, on Sunday, 3 April, against arch rivals Australia. Danni Wyatt’s dashing hundred and Sophie Ecclestone’s six wickets helped them thrash South Africa by 137 runs.
Sune Luus won the toss and decided to bowl. It looked like a good decision when Tammy Beaumont fell for 7 and Heather Knight for 1. But Wyatt, well set by then, built a couple of handy partnerships with Nat Sciver (15) and Amy Jones (28). However, England were 126/4 in the 26th over when Jones fell, and the match could have gone either way from there. South Africa were also guilty of missing multiple catches of Wyatt, who had raced to 69 by then.
This was when Sophia Dunkley joined Wyatt. Dunkley did not take time to get set, scored at a run a ball from the start. That helped Wyatt to cruise to her second ODI hundred in the 37th Over. England soon crossed 200, and even 300 seemed achievable.
After letting Wyatt off five times, Lizelle Lee eventually caught her, off Masabata Klaas, for a career-best 129. Dunkley scored 60 in 72 balls, while Ecclestone raced away to an 11-ball 24. Both fell to Shabnim Ismail in the 50th over, but by then England had piled up 293/8.
Anya Shrubsole struck early in response, catching Laura Wolvaardt off her own bowling for a duck, and removing a struggling Lee for 2. Lara Goodall and Luus took the score to 44 before Kate Cross ran through Luus’ defence. Charlie Dean bowled Goodall for 28 in her first over. South Africa were 67/4 and Ecclestone had not even bowled.
South Africa folded soon after Ecclestone, the top-ranked bowler and the highest-wicket taker of the tournament even before the day’s play, finally came on in the 24th over. She deceived Marizanne Kapp in flight to get her in her second over, and did not look back from there. She finished with 6-36, the best figures for by an Englishwoman in World Cup cricket.
Brief Scores
England 293/8 in 50 overs (Danni Wyatt 129; Shabnim Ismail 3-46) beat South Africa 156 (Mignon du Preez 30; Sophie Ecclestone 6-36) by 137 runs. Player of the Match: Danni Wyatt.