On This Day — England Women Edge Past South Africa by 2 Wickets to Reach ICC Women’s World Cup Final

The match was a nail-biter, keeping fans on the edge of their seats right till the end. England chased down the target in the final over, dramatically sealing the win. It was a tense game with plenty of twists, but the home side held their nerve. Let’s take a complete look back at how this memorable match unfolded.

England Women vs South Africa Women: 1st Semi-Finals on 18th July, 2017

On July 18, 2017, at Bristol’s County Ground, South Africa Women won the toss and chose to bat first in the ICC Women’s World Cup semi-final against England. The crowd was buzzing with anticipation as they saw the South Africa team aiming to post a big score to challenge the in-form hosts. Facing England’s disciplined bowlers, South Africa’s batters had to dig deep, blending caution with bursts of aggression to build a competitive total.

The innings started with Laura Wolvaardt and Lizelle Lee opening the batting. England’s pace duo, Katherine Sciver-Brunt and Anya Shrubsole, came out swinging, keeping the ball on a tight line. Lee looked to settle in but struggled against Shrubsole’s swing. In the 5.3rd over, she edged one back to Shrubsole for just 7 runs off 13 balls, leaving South Africa at 21 for 1. Trisha Chetty, the wicketkeeper, walked in next, and she and Wolvaardt tried to steady things. They put on 27 runs, with Chetty hitting two crisp fours for her 15 off 23 balls. But in the 11.4th over, Nat Sciver-Brunt spun one past Chetty, who was stumped by Sarah Taylor, and South Africa were 48 for 2.

With two quick wickets down, Laura Wolvaardt found a steady partner in Mignon du Preez. The pair played smart cricket, picking singles and finding boundaries when the bowlers strayed. Wolvaardt’s calm, textbook style shone through as she scored 66 off 100 balls, stroking eight fours with ease. Du Preez was more attacking, keeping the runs flowing. Their 77-run stand for the third wicket took South Africa past 100, giving them hope of a big total. But just as they looked set to accelerate, Heather Knight, England’s captain, bowled a beauty in the 31.2nd over to dismiss Wolvaardt, breaking the partnership at 125 for 3.

Marizanne Kapp, South Africa’s star all-rounder, came in but didn’t last long. In the 31.5th over, a sharp throw from Shrubsole and quick work by Taylor ran her out for just 1, leaving South Africa at 126 for 4. Captain Dane van Niekerk joined du Preez, and the two added 42 runs to keep the innings alive. Van Niekerk played with flair, smashing three fours and a six for her 27 off 39 balls. But in the 41.3rd over, a mix-up with Nat Sciver-Brunt and Alex Hartley saw her run out, a big blow at 168 for 5. Chloe Tryon’s stay was even shorter as she scored 1 before lobbing a catch back to Jenny Gunn in the 42.1st over, leaving South Africa wobbling at 170 for 6.

Mignon du Preez stood firm, guiding the innings with an unbeaten 76 off 95 balls, including five fours. Her grit was key as wickets fell around her. Sune Luus chipped in with an unbeaten 21 off 25 balls, helping South Africa push to 218 for 6 in their 50 overs. England’s bowlers shared the spoils as Shrubsole, Sciver-Brunt, Gunn, and Knight each took a wicket, while two run-outs showed their fielding prowess. South Africa’s total was solid but not out of reach on a good batting pitch. They had fought hard, with Wolvaardt and du Preez shining, but losing wickets at key moments stopped them from posting a bigger score. Now, their bowlers had to step up to defend 218 and keep their World Cup dream alive.

Chasing 219 to reach the World Cup final, England Women stepped onto the field with confidence. Their batting had been a strength all tournament, and they knew they could chase this down with smart cricket. Openers Lauren Winfield-Hill and Tammy Beaumont faced South Africa’s fiery bowlers, Shabnim Ismail and Marizanne Kapp, who were ready to make life tough.

The chase started steadily, with Winfield-Hill and Beaumont putting on 42 runs for the first wicket. They played with care, respecting the good deliveries and pouncing on anything loose. But in the 8.3rd over, Ayabonga Khaka struck, getting Winfield-Hill caught by Mignon du Preez for 20 off 43 balls. Beaumont followed in the 12.6th over, bowled by Khaka for 15 off 23 balls with two fours. At 61 for 2, England needed someone to step up. Sarah Taylor, their star batter, joined captain Heather Knight, and the two built a vital 78-run partnership for the third wicket.

Taylor was in top form, playing gorgeous shots for her 54 off 76 balls, including seven fours. She kept the chase on track, while Knight’s steady 30 off 56 balls, with two fours, provided support. They took England to 139, but South Africa hit back hard. In the 32.1st over, Dane van Niekerk’s sharp fielding ran out Taylor. Then, in the 33.2nd over, Sune Luus had Knight caught by Laura Wolvaardt. When Nat Sciver-Brunt was bowled by Luus for 3 in the 33.6th over, England were 145 for 5, and the game was on a knife’s edge.

Fran Wilson and Katherine Sciver-Brunt stepped in to calm things down, adding 28 runs for the sixth wicket. Wilson played with guts, scoring 30 off 38 balls with three fours, while Sciver-Brunt made 12 off 27. But in the 42.2nd over, Moseline Daniels bowled Sciver-Brunt, leaving England at 173 for 6. The crowd was tense, and South Africa sensed a chance. Jenny Gunn, known for staying cool under pressure, joined Wilson, and they inched closer to the target. Wilson fell in the 47.6th over, caught by Trisha Chetty off Kapp, leaving England needing 6 runs with two wickets left.

Laura Marsh walked in but managed just 1 before Shabnim Ismail bowled her in the 49.3rd over. England were 217 for 8, needing 2 runs off the last 4 balls. Anya Shrubsole joined Gunn, who was unbeaten on 27 off 27 balls with three fours. With the game on the line, Shrubsole faced her first ball in the 49.4th over and smashed a boundary off Ismail, clinching a thrilling 2-wicket win with 2 balls to spare. The crowd erupted as England booked their spot in the final.

South Africa’s bowlers gave it their all. Khaka was brilliant with 2 for 28, and Luus took 2 for 24. Ismail, Kapp, and Daniels each grabbed a wicket, but 25 extras, including 17 wides, proved costly. Sarah Taylor’s classy 54 earned her Player of the Match, but Jenny Gunn’s steady 27 not out was just as vital. England’s chase had wobbled as they lost wickets in bunches and nearly threw it away, but their depth and cool heads got them over the line. For South Africa, it was a heartbreaking loss after a spirited fight. They pushed England to the limit, but the hosts’ ability to find a way in the clutch sent them to their fifth World Cup final.