ICC Women’s World Cup 2017: England vs South Africa, 5 things that England did right to win the semi-final

The first semifinal between the English and the South African women saw one of the most nail-biting finishes in this edition of the World Cup. Quite visibly, the South African players looked distraught. They had scrapped all the way, every inch, and yet, had lost by the narrowest of margins.

After electing to bat first, South Africa were in a spot of bother after losing Lizelle Lee cheaply. They lost wickets at regular intervals and failed to score quickly enough. However, Laura Wolvaardt and Mignon du Preez both scored half-centuries and took the total up to 218, which gave them something to defend. In reply, England were coasting, with Sarah Taylor and Heather Knight looking impregnable. But a run-out turned the game on its heels.

Sune Luus then grabbed two in one over and made things interesting before Jenny Gunn joined Fran Wilson to pull them over the line, with some last-gasp help from Anya Shrubsole.

Here we list down five things which helped England secure a spot in the final of the World Cup.

#5 Maintaining discipline with the ball

The two teams had given their all in the match, not sparing an inch for the opposition. But in the end, there had to be a winner and the factor that became decisive was the number of extra runs given away by the Proteas.

It was one of the closest matches in the tournament and in such matches, an unnecessary no-ball, a wide or a bye can prove to be the deciding factor. That the English bowlers were so disciplined throughout the South African innings is a commendable feat.

Katherine Burnt and Co. gave away only four extras (four wides). On the other hand, the South African bowlers gave away as many as 25 extras with Marizanne Kapp, the number one ODI bowler leading the charge with nine wides.

#4 Sarah Taylor’s knock

Sarah Taylor scored a brilliant half-century

Chasing down 218 would not have been too much of a problem for this England team. However, with the wicket of Lauren Winfield in the ninth over, the gates had opened up for the Proteas. Soon, fellow opener Tammy Beaumont was dismissed as well.

Another wicket at that moment would have made matters worse. However, the English team could rely upon the ever dependable Sarah Taylor. The right-handed wicketkeeper batswoman read the situation perfectly and began playing cautiously.

Ably accompanied by her captain, Heather Knight, Taylor took her team to a position of comfort. The 28-year-old scored 54 runs off 76 balls, an innings which comprised of seven hits to the fence as she forged a valuable 78-run partnership with Knight before she was run-out by opposition captain Dane van Niekerk.

#3 Playing out Dane van Niekerk

Dane van Niekerk had had a brilliant World Cup but went wicketless today

Coming into the semifinal, South African captain Dane van Niekerk had been in superb form with the ball. She had already picked up 15 wickets in seven matches and had the opposition batswomen on their hunches.

On more than one occasion, Van Niekerk had stood up and almost turned the match in favour of her team almost single-handedly. Presumably, the entire team looks at her whenever they need a miracle of sorts. Today, though, she had an off day with the ball as the English batswomen played her out with ultimate caution.

They did not take any unnecessary risks against the leg-break bowler and waited for the bad balls to score the boundaries. It turned out to be a winning tactic for the English team as Van Niekerk went wicketless in her five overs while giving away 25 runs.

#2 Fran Wilson and Jenny Gunn’s partnership

Fran Wilson batted fearlessly

As long as Taylor and Knight were in the middle it looked like England would cruise to victory. However, the wicket of Taylor changed the complexion of the match. In the next over, two wickets fell to make matters worse as Knight and Natalie Sciver were both outwitted by Sune Luus.

Katherine Brunt could not make much of an impact as well and was dismissed for 12. At that time, with England hobbling at 173-6 in 42 overs with South Africa very much in the driving seat. However, Jenny Gunn joined Fran Wilson and the duo started playing fearlessly.

Yes, they could not take the team past the finish line with Wilson being dismissed on 30 with the score reading 213, but eventually, the 40-run partnership between Gunn and Wilson proved to be vital in England’s narrow win.

#1 Keeping calm and composed under pressure

Amy Shrubsole hitting the winning runs

Even as Wilson and Gunn took England to the threshold of victory, Wilson’s dismissal had a few nerves jangling in the English dressing room. Moreover, it sparked a sense of hope amongst the Proteas, who started believing that a win was possible.

England still needed nine runs from twelve balls with three wickets remaining and it could have been anyone’s match. The pressure was on – a win would secure a place in the final at Lord’s, a shot at glory, a loss, on the other hand, would send the team back home.

It all came down to who kept their cool and between the Shabnim Ismail and Amy Shrubsole, the English No. 10 batswomen, it was the latter who prevailed. Ismail had just bowled out Laura Marsh but Shrubsole was unperturbed by it. She stepped out authoritatively and smashed the ball through extra point to take her team to the final.