England vs South Africa, ICC Women’s World Cup 2017, semi-final 1: England sneak into final leaving South Africa in tears
England sneak into final leaving South Africa in tears
The Protea fire, somehow, douses in the semi-finals, and the word ‘chokers’ comes to the fore. The loss in the semi-final of 1999 World Cup was so numbing to the senses that it eternally affected South Africa’s prophecy. Until now the infamous tag belonged only to the men, but now — after the result of the first semi-final of the 2017 Women’s World — their female counterparts will fall on the same page. South Africa painfully lost a last-over thriller at Bristol as hosts England journey to the final at Lord’s.
Dane van Kiekerk writhingly moved to her left and produced a direct hit to dismiss Sarah Taylor for 54. In the next over captain Heather Knight whacked a rank full-toss to deep square-leg. In the same over, off the last ball, Natalie Sciver was bowled around her legs. For once, she could not pull off the trending Natmeg, one that she hits between her legs. England slumped to 145 for 5 from 139 for 2.
In a matter of 11 balls, England lost 3 important wickets and the pulses quickened…
Before that, England had been strolling to victory. Chasing 222 in a game such as semi-final looked like a cakewalk. They had rubbished South Africa’s every plan. And top-ranked Marizanne Kapp had not got a wicket.
Openers Lauren Winfield and Tammy Beaumont had added 35 runs between them, but they had done that at a brisk rate. South Africa had no reply to England’s approach. When Taylor and Knight partnered to bail England out, the situation worsened for South Africa. The pair displayed a tally of drives, pulls, sweeps, scythes to make mockery of the famed South African bowling.
They founds gaps, and when they could not, they took the aerial rout. If anything, South Africa were out of the game.
At the drinks break, South Africa captain was animated, perhaps sprinkling words of wisdom, and thud…
The lynchpins — Taylor, Knight, and Sciver — were back in the pavilion when England needed 74. Whether Dane had infected her comrades with her pep talk or England lost the plot, but something had magically turned the tide. The lady who was calmly knitting in the stands had to drop the needle; she was now fidgeting.
What had England done? How did it come to this?
Exactly 3 overs before the sudden downfall, when South Africa could not break free, Kapp was bowling full and wide — a ploy often seen in the death overs. It worked wonders, for South Africa had found a way to keep England in check: if you do not get wickets, why not sneak in as many dot balls as possible? Strangle them. Do not give in. Dane kept squealing tirelessly. Three wickets went down. We had a game in our hands. Shoot down half the side, and we are into the finals…
But Fran Wilson was not one to succumb. She played a reverse-scoop right away. The ball would have sent the stumps for a walk on another day, but today it flew over the wicketkeeper. Jenny Gunn then whacked it so hard that neither deep mid-wicket nor long-on did not bother to move.
England were on course, and how!
Wilson tried to create an encore of the scoop but failed spectacularly: Wicketkeeper Trisha Chetty pulled off a one-handed stunner. Of course, it was uncalled for when England need 7 off 13. Had the result of the match turned out to be otherwise, the flashbacks would have haunted all her life, and writers would have reminded her of her blunder in the chapters of close encounters. Think Mike Gatting and the 1987 World Cup final.
Gunn kept triggering her shots. She had to. She was running out of time as well as partners. England needed 3 off 6.
Shabnim Ismail dropped a tough chance off her own bowling. Gunn survived; she took a single off the next ball. England needed 2 off 4.
Laura Marsh, playing only her third delivery, danced down the track and went for an almighty heave: she failed to make contact and the stumps were rattled. England needed 2 off 3.
Gunn was at the non-striker’s end. All Anya Shrubsole had to do was change strike, but she perhaps wanted to end the misery herself: she pierced the off-side field and to the fence, leaving South Africa in tears.
Dane was down the way AB de Villiers was during the semi-final of 2015 World Cup. Leslie Lee was inconsolable, as was Trisha Chetty, as was Mignon du Preez, as was Ayabonga Khaka, and why not? They were 2 wickets away from the reason they had taken up cricket, the eternal dream they have been working towards.
“It was a great game of cricket and I hope the fans enjoyed it. We just hope we make everyone proud. We needed some magic, but we didn’t get it today. We had a great run,” said the South African captain after the defeat.
Laura Wolvaardt and du Preez, with resilient half-centuries, did remarkably well to take South Africa to a competitive total. Between them they scored 60 per cent of the team’s total. They could not have done better in a semi-final and against the favourites England.
“It was tight watching on the balcony. These close games are the best to win and the worst to lose. What a game of cricket,” said Knight, the victorious captain.
Brief scores
South Africa 218 for 6 (Laura Wolvaardt 66, Mignon du Preez 76; Anya Shrubsole 1 for 33) beat England 221 for 8 in 49.4 overs (Sarah Taylor 54, Fran Wilson 30; Ayabonga Khaka 2 for 28) by 2 wickets.
Player of the Match: Sarah Taylor.