England Women vs South Africa Women Highlights, Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Semi-Final: Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt led from the front as England thrashed South Africa in the second semi-final of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 at The Oval, setting up a summit clash against Australia.
England vs South Africa Highlights, Women’s T20 World Cup 2026: Captain Nat Sciver-Brunt led from the front as England thrashed South Africa in the second semi-final of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 at The Oval, setting up a summit clash against Australia. Chasing 170, South Africa kept losing wickets at regular intervals despite Tazmin Brits’ resistance. Brits scored 51 off 45 balls as the Proteas were eventually restricted to 129/8 in 20 overs. Earlier, England recovered from a top-order collapse to post 169/5 in 20 overs, courtesy of a 133-run stand between Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight. Sciver-Brunt continued her rich vein of form, top-scoring with a 47-ball 75, while Knight played the perfect supporting role with 58 off 47 balls.
Then there were two – Righto, the two giants of the Women’s game are back in the Final, going head-to-head in what is anticipated to be an iconic match at ‘the home of cricket.’ On one side stand England Women, the hosts, champions in 2009 and the team that’s never lost a home World Cup Final. On the other side stand the mighty Australia Women, who have 6 T20 World Cups to their name. Both teams have an unblemished record heading into the Final, but there can be only one winner. A blockbuster Finale for the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is all set, and it all begins on Sunday, July 5, at the iconic Lord’s. The match is scheduled to begin at 2.30 pm GMT, but you can join us sooner for the build-up to the action. Until then, it’s goodbye from us. Cheers!
Nat Sciver-Brunt of England Women – She describes the Oval as a special place to play cricket and says she has loved playing there over the years. It is a fantastic venue, she adds, to show people what it means to represent England and inspire the next generation. Sciver-Brunt says she always had complete faith in England’s batting unit. After being reduced to 23/3, she and Heather Knight knew they had an important job to do. She praises the composure they showed, adding that they approached the innings differently from a typical T20 knock. On the pitch, Sciver-Brunt says there was variable bounce throughout. Keeping the stumps in play was important, while cutters and cross-seam deliveries proved effective. She thanks the crowds for their support throughout the tournament, saying the atmosphere has been incredible. Even during the game, she managed to take it all in and is already looking forward to experiencing it again at Lord’s. On her fitness, Sciver-Brunt says her calf is feeling good. Looking ahead to the final, she calls it a massive occasion and says playing a World Cup final at Lord’s is a dream. Adds that Australia are a hugely successful and immensely talented side.
Laura Wolvaardt of South Africa Women – Wolvaardt, on being asked about her emotions, says that it’s a disappointing result, but also says that the English side deserved to win. On being asked what the difference was, she answers that England were good with the ball and had a big partnership, which they really lacked in their innings. About the pitch, she says that the track was pretty good to bat on as the ball was coming nicely to the bat. Reckons that 170 was a par total and the outfield was lightning fast. On the support in the stadium, she says that she is very happy and grateful for the fans who turned up in the stadium to support them. On their tournament as a whole, she says that they had a decent campaign. They didn’t quite find the tempo in the batting unit throughout the tournament, but their bowling and fielding were up to the mark.
Skipper returns with a bang – Earlier in the day, Nat Sciver-Brunt was back in the side for England Women, and even though she wasn’t 100 percent fit, she led the fightback for her side. South Africa Women had the hosts reeling at 23/3 with Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail breathing fire. However, Nat and former skipper Heather Knight put on a 133-run stand that changed the complexion of the game. Nat was the standout, scoring 75 off just 47 balls, but Knight too struck a half-century. The Proteas pulled things back in the last couple of overs and kept England down to 169 runs.
Another day, another heartbreak – South Africa Women did really well to topple India and reach yet another semi-final, but their shaky batting cost them dearly as it did against the Aussies in their opening encounter as well. Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits did give the Proteas a decent start, putting on 43 runs for the opening wicket, but Wolvaardt gave her wicket away, and things changed. Brits tried to build a few stands and reached fifty, but the wickets just kept on falling, and Brits too got out soon after. There wasn’t much fight from the middle order, and South Africa were blown away with ease.
Player of the Match – England’s skipper, Nat Sciver-Brunt, is handed the award for her game-changing knock of 75 off just 47 balls. Returning to the side, Sciver-Brunt admits there were plenty of nerves, made bigger by the occasion of a World Cup semifinal. Adds that there were a lot of emotions before the game, but once the warm-up began, she was able to switch on and simply enjoy herself. On facing Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail, Sciver-Brunt says they are world-class opening bowlers. Shares that the plan was to nullify their threat early and then capitalise against the rest of the attack. Speaking about the pitch, Sciver-Brunt says there was a bit of variable bounce. Mentions that the idea was to stay strong on the stumps and be clear about the scoring areas. Adds that spending time at the crease made batting much easier, while it was difficult for new batters coming in.
Prolific in the field – England Women had the runs on the board, but it was a gettable target. However, once Sophie Ecclestone snaffled that catch of Laura Wolvaardt, the hosts pounced and they were relentless. It was a well-rounded bowling performance with the spinners having their say on a drying track, and Freya Kemp was simply brilliant with her slower ones. Everyone, barring Danielle Gibson, picked up a wicket, but she did bowl just the solo over. All in all, a performance worthy of sealing a place in the Final.
Back in the Final – England Women have made it back into the Women’s T20 World Cup final, and their streak of winning all home World Cups at home is still alive. A completely dominant performance, barring the first few overs of the game, and they have thumped South Africa Women by a huge margin.
England are through to the final, where they will meet Australia. Smith drops it a bit short, on middle. Shabnim hangs back and shovels it wide of short fine leg for just a single. Hugs and smiles all around in the English camp.
Flighted delivery, a bit fuller, on off. Nadine De Klerk has a swing at it and ends up slicing it down to long off, where the fielder does not commit herself to the catch and hangs back to collect it on the bounce. Linsey Smith is not happy one bit.
Bowled with more of a round-arm action, fractionally short, on middle. Nadine makes room to force it away on the off side but the ball does not rise much. Chops it down off a bottom edge towards short fine leg.
Pulls the length back, a bit of turn, on middle. Ismail whips it to deep mid-wicket for a single.
Fuller and quicker, outside off. Nadine walks across the stumps and goes hard on the sweep. It goes off a top edge but lands safely in front of deep mid-wicket. They cross.
