The Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 witnessed its last group stage matches at the Newlands in Cape Town on Friday (February 17). While England faced Pakistan in the first match, South Africa locked horns with Bangladesh in the second clash of the double-header.
England won the toss in the first encounter and chose to bat first. The English team’s batters put up a solid show as Nat Sciver-Brunt played a brilliant knock of 81 runs off just 40 deliveries, including twelve fours and a six. Danielle Wyatt (59) and Amy Jones (47) also made a valuable contributions and powered the team total to mammoth 213 runs in 20 overs. Meanwhile, Fatima Sana picked up two wickets for Pakistan, supported by Tuba Hassan‘s one scalp. However, they failed to restrict England post a massive score.
Chasing 214 for victory, Pakistan got off to a rocky start as they lost a few early wickets. In the end, they managed to score 99/9 in their allotted 20 overs. Tuba top-scored for her team with 28 runs but failed to sail her team through, and the Women in Green eventually lost the contest by huge 114 runs.
On the other hand, England bowlers, led by Sciver-Brunt and Charlotte Dean, played a significant role in dismantling the Pakistan line-up and guided their team to victory. Both Brunt and Dean took two scalps each.
Talking about the second encounter of the day, South Africa put on a dominant performance against Bangladesh and won the clash by ten wickets.
After electing to bat first, Bangladesh didn’t start well. However, skipper Nigar Sultana (30), with the support of Sobhana Mostary (27), helped her team reach a fighting total of 113 in the allotted 20 overs. In the meantime, Ayabonga Khaka and Marizanne Kapp bagged two wickets each for hosts South Africa.
In reply, South Africa got off to a flying start with openers Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits smashing brilliant half-centuries and helping their team chase the set target in 17.5 overs without losing a single wicket. Laura’s 66 off 56 deliveries and Brits’ 50 off 51 balls not just helped the hosts win the game but also reach the semis on the basis of net run rate.
With the victory, South Africa finished behind Australia in Group A and will now face England in the second semi-final.
