A collaborative effort helped England women’s team cruise to the final of the ICC Women's World Twenty20 by defeating South Africa women’s side by nine wickets in the second semifinal at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.
This is the second consecutive time the English women, champion of the maiden Women’s World Twenty20 held in 2009, have made it to the final of the tournament. Even more coincidental is the fact that this will be the second successive they will face Australia in the final of a World T20.
England and Australia faced each other in the title decider in the last edition of the tournament held in Sri Lanka in 2012. Australia bagged the championship on that occasion for the second time in a row by defeating England by four runs in Colombo.
England had things going their way right from the beginning in this crucial fixture against South Africa. They won the toss and knew exactly what needed to be done after sending their opponents to bat first. English opening bowler, Anya Shrubsole justified her captain’s decision by dismissing two South African batters in her first two overs. Shrubsole’s first victim was opener Lizelle Lee in the third ball of her first over while the second was Trisha Shetty in the second over to leave England struggling at 7 for 2. Seven balls later South Africa lost their third wicket, Yolandi this time to Becky Grundy.
These early dismissals mounted pressure on the South African batters which resulted in a drop in the run rate. Running between the wickets was never on song with five run-outs. The most horrible dismissal was the way Sune Luus got out. Luus pushed the ball over extra-cover in the last ball of the 16th over but only to collide while she and her partner Chloe Tryon tried to take a second run which resulted in a bizarre run out. South Africa lost their last wicket with a ball to spare after posting 101 runs on the board. Tryon’s 31-ball 40 was the savior for the South Africans. She slammed three fours and two sixes during her innings. Shrubsole and Grundy picked up two wickets each for England.
England, riding on the opening partnership of 67 runs between Sarah Taylor and Charlotte Edwards, chased down the target comfortably with 19 balls to spare. The partnership was finally broken in the first ball of the 12th over by right-arm spinner Luus who took a return catch from Edwards. Edwards scored 36 off 40 with five boundaries. Later, Taylor and Heather Knight cruised to the target with an unbeaten 35 runs stand for the second wicket. Taylor was unbeaten on 44 while Knight was unbeaten on 21.
