ICC Women's CWC 2022 | 2nd Semi-Final | Clinical England march to 2nd consecutive final after beating South Africa

On Thursday, England registered a convincing win over South Africa in the ICC Women's World Cup semi-final clash to seal a place in the final. Danielle Wyatt smashed a stunning 129, whereas Sophie Ecclestone's career-best 6 for 36 helped the team reach the finish line with ease in Christchurch.

After winning the toss, South Africa had a great start where they put England in trouble by picking up three early wickets, making use of the conditions. But they also dropped Wyatt thrice en route to her maiden World Cup century and twice after. Therefore, it cost them the game as she guided England to an above-par score of 293/8. 

Thus, setting South Africa their highest ever ODI chase to earn their maiden final appearance. On the other hand, Anya Shrubsole's two early scalps in consecutive overs, including the tournament top-scorer Laura Wolvaardt, witnessed South Africa struggling in the middle before Ecclestone dismantled the lower-order with her six-wicket haul to keep them restricted to 156.

However, Wyatt was the only bright spot in England's top-order after losing Tammy Beaumont to a Marizanne Kapp's outswinger in the fourth over itself. Kapp conceded just six runs in her opening spell of four overs. Heather Knight consumed several dots but failed to contribute as she was trapped in front of the stumps for just a single run to her name.

Meanwhile, Nat Sciver could only manage 15. Wyatt, however, kept going, and with Amy Jones, she added 49 runs for the fourth-wicket stand. Her knock soon helped England recover well to post 121/3 at the halfway stage. However, Jones's stay came to an end after a 32-ball 28, leaving Sophia Dunkley in a similar situation to resurrect the innings to seal the place in the final. The young all-rounder added a 116-run stand with Wyatt.

Wyatt, who consumed 56 balls to her half-century, took another 32 balls to reach a hundred in the 37th over before England reached 200. Then, in the space of three deliveries, she got two lives and scored a 125-ball 129 before Klaas finally removed her. Dunkley also scored her second successive fifty off 62 deliveries before Klaas struck again. In the end, Ecclestone played a handy cameo of 24 off 11 with five boundaries to post a decent total of 293/8.

Shrubsole then started with the wicket of Wolvaardt, and then she had the dangerous Lizelle Lee with a sharp inswinger, and she got out for a mere two off 15. Next, Lara Goodall showed her class with three boundaries in seven balls off Brunt, while Luus' two wickets took South Africa to 37/2 in their powerplay. But Kate Cross dismissed Luus off her fifth ball, and South Africa once again started to struggle when Charlie Dean knocked over Goodall's stumps.

Ecclestone came into the scene soon after, when South Africa's score read 86/4 after 23 overs and picked up all the remaining wickets to help her side win. She struck in her second over, removing Kapp with a flighted delivery. She also sent the in-form Mignon du Preez with a straighter one. After that, South Africa failed to make a steady ship in between as Ecclestone left no stone unturned to put England in their sixth World Cup final on Sunday, where they will take on Australia.

Brief scores: England 293/8 in 50 overs (Danni Wyatt 129, Sophia Dunkley 60; Shabnim Ismail 3-46) beat South Africa 156 all out in 38 overs (Mignon du Preez 30; Sophie Ecclestone 6-36, Anya Shrubsole 2-27) by 137 runs.