Nat Sciver-Brunt starred with the bat to steer England to their second win of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 as they beat South Africa by seven wickets.
England were set 125 to win after South Africa had opted to bat first, captain Laura Wolvaardt leading the way with 42 alongside a crucial knock of 26 from all-rounder Marizanne Kapp.
Kapp then impressed with the ball to restrict England in the early stages of their run chase, but Sciver-Brunt produced a match-winning innings of 48 from 36 balls alongside a run-a-ball 43 from Danni Wyatt-Hodge to get England over the line with four balls to spare.
South Africa started brightly with openers Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits taking 31 from the first five overs before Brits was dismissed at the start of the sixth over, caught off Linsey Smith for 13.
Wolvaardt continued to impress for the Proteas alongside Anneke Bosch, who dug in for a gritty 18 off 26 balls before being bowled by Sarah Glenn.
That proved a key breakthrough for England, who then claimed the crucial wicket of Wolvaardt just over two overs later, with star spinner Sophie Ecclestone pegging back middle stump to dismiss the South Africa captain for 42.
It brought a premature end to a promising partnership with Kapp, who led the attack in the final few overs with a quickfire 26 off 17 balls to push South Africa into three figures.
England looked to turn the screw at the death, with Charlie Dean claiming the wicket of Chloe Tryon (2) before Ecclestone bowled Kapp in the penultimate over.
Nat Sciver-Brunt inflicted further damage with a clever run out of Sune Luus (1), but the 2023 runners-up responded well with back-to-back boundaries from Annerie Dercksen, who ended with an unbeaten 20 alongside Nadine de Klerk (1) to set England a chase of 125 to win.
England began slowly, with openers Maia Bouchier and Wyatt-Hodge restricted by well-disciplined line and length from Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka.
The pair conceded just eight runs from the first three overs before Kapp made the breakthrough in the fifth, sealing a wicket maiden by pinning Bouchier leg before to dismiss the opener for just eight runs off 20 balls.
Needing to up the run rate, England responded well with 12 runs from the final over of the powerplay as Alice Capsey looked to steady the ship.
Capsey capitalised on being dropped without scoring to race to 19 off 16 balls before being caught and bowled by Nadine de Klerk trying to hit down the ground to leave England on 50 for two.
That provided a platform for Wyatt-Hodge and Nat Sciver-Brunt to build a strong partnership, with the pair combining well in the middle overs to keep up with the rate and put England in a favourable position for victory.
The stand had reached 64 when Wyatt-Hodge was stumped off Nonkululeko Mlaba for 43 with 11 runs required from the final two overs.
But Sciver-Brunt held steady alongside captain Heather Knight and sealed victory with a boundary through the covers to cap a fine performance in Sharjah.
Scores in brief
South Africa v England at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
South Africa 124/6 in 20 overs (Laura Wolvaardt 42, Marizanne Kapp 26; Sophie Ecclestone 2/15, Sarah Glenn 1/18)
England 125/3 in 19.2 overs (Nat Sciver-Brunt 48 not out, Danni Wyatt-Hodge 43; Marizanne Kapp 1/17, Nonkululeko Mlaba 1/22)
Result: England win by seven wickets
