CAPE TOWN: South African openers Laur Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits struck magnificent half-centuries before bowlers led the home side to edge England and into the final of the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023.

Set to chase 165, England fell five runs short as the side finished at 158/8 in their allotted 20 overs with none of their batters could score big in the semi-final.

England were off to a flying start in the run chase as openers Danni Wyatt and Sophia Dunkley stitched a magnificent 53-run partnership.

Ayabonga Khaka then dented England’s pursuit with twin strikes including Dunkley’s wicket in the sixth over and brought South Africa back into the game. Dunkley scored a brisk 28 off 16 deliveries.

Wyatt then stitched a crucial partnership with Nat Sciver-Brunt and added 32 runs for the third wicket before Khaka struck again to see the end of Wyatt’s knock. She scored 34 off 30 deliveries.

Following Wyatt’s dismissal, skipper Heather Knight joined Nat Sciver-Brunt in the middle and attempted to anchor the run chase with a brief 27-run partnership before the latter perished in the 17th over.

Nat Sciver-Brunt remained the top-scorer for England with 40 off 34 deliveries, hitting five boundaries.

Following her dismissal, England ran into a frustrating collapse that eventually resulted in them falling a mere five runs short of the glory.

Khaka led the bowling attack for South Africa with 4/29 while Shabnim Ismail returned with 3/27.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, South Africa piled 164/4 at the back of brilliant half-centuries by their openers Wolvaardt and Britz.

The duo scripted a solid start for their side as they scored 96 runs for the first wicket before Wolvaardt perished briefly after amassing her half-century. She scored 53 off 44 deliveries, smashing five boundaries and a six.

Britz then partnered with Marizanne Kapp and took South Africa to 142 inside 18 overs before finally falling victim to Lauren Bell. She top-scored for the Proteas women with 68 off 55 deliveries and struck six boundaries and two sixes.

Her dismissal triggered a late collapse in the South African batting lineup as the side slipped to 145/4 in the 19th over.

Kapp, however, stood her ground firm and guided South Africa to a defendable total with an unbeaten 27-run knock off just 13 deliveries.

Sophie Ecclestone led the bowling attack for England with 3/22 while Bell made one scalp.

READ: Azam wreaks havoc as United pile mammoth 220/6 against Gladiators