England thrashed South Africa by 40 runs in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup semifinal on Thursday to set up a climax against their oldest rivals, Australia, on Sunday.
𝙄𝙏’𝙎 𝘼𝙇𝙇 𝘾𝙊𝙈𝙀 𝘿𝙊𝙒𝙉 𝙏𝙊 𝙏𝙃𝙄𝙎 🏆
— ICC (@ICC) July 2, 2026
Australia. England. Lord’s. The #T20WorldCup Final 🗓️ pic.twitter.com/5JCW5OmTKn
On a cloudless day at The Oval with an appreciative crowd of 21 128 in attendance, the scene was set for a more tightly contested match than the first semi between Australia and the West Indies.
That was true, initially, when South Africa began the match well, reducing England to 23-3 inside the power play after winning the toss and inserting the hosts.
However, the England innings gained momentum through a partnership of 133 in 90 balls between their most experienced batters, skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight, enabling England to compile a respectable but by no means intimidating 169-5.
The Proteas began their run chase promisingly, with Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits putting on 43 in 5.4 overs.
But from the moment Wolvaardt – who has had a poor World Cup – departed, well caught by Sophie Ecclestone at mid-on off Linsey Smith for 17, South Africa’s innings effectively deflated despite a brave 51 from Brits and the game was long over well before the final over as South Africa stumbled to 129-8.
England’s victory was due to their quality in depth in both their batting and bowling stocks. South Africa, by contrast, had to rely on a few quality players with their second-string bowlers and middle and lower-order batters failing to fire.
Fifth Women's #T20WorldCup Final ✅
— ICC (@ICC) July 2, 2026
England punch their ticket to take on Australia at Lord's on Sunday 🤩
Watch action from the summit clash LIVE 👉 https://t.co/NEdgZbaZxL pic.twitter.com/X7mAJGFeNX
GOOD START FOR SA, BUT ENGLAND'S EXPERIENCE TO THE FORE
Earlier, Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail cut through the England top-order after the hosts were asked to bat first
Ismail claimed her 50th wicket in T20 World Cups when Amy Jones slapped the pacer’s first ball to cover. Although 17 came off the over, the breakthrough had been effected.
Kapp then bowled the in-form Danni Wyatt-Hodge through the gate in her second over before Ismail trapped Alice Capsey leg before to reduce England to 23 for three wickets inside four overs.
England faced a crisis but their two most experienced batters, Sciver-Brunt and Knight, gradually took control, helped by some poor bowling by South Africa’s second-string attack after Kapp had bowled out her quota of overs by the seventh over, taking 1-16.
The pair profited from short-pitched deliveries and those in the slot to add 133 in 90 balls for the fourth wicket until Sciver-Brunt – back from an injury to her calf holed out on the midwicket boundary for a superb 75 in 47 balls off left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba in the 19th over.
An inspiring batting performance under pressure from Nat Sciver-Brunt powered England into the #T20WorldCup Final 🔥
— ICC (@ICC) July 2, 2026
She wins the @aramco POTM 🏅 pic.twitter.com/thyxi8QIkT
Her innings included 11 fours and a six and was her eighth half-century in T20 World Cups, the equal most ever.
Mlaba, however, bowled an excellent over, also claiming the scalp of Knight (58 off 47 balls) while Ayabonga Khaka only conceded nine off the final over to restrict England to a respectable, but from South Africa’s point of view, attainable target.
Ismail claimed 2-31, Mlaba 2-25 and Kapp 1-16 in their full spells, but the other bowlers were expensive.
When England bowled, the dry pitch – used three times in a week – appeared to slow appreciably and their pace and spin bowlers exploited this with plenty of slower deliveries.
After the power play, as the ball got older, the SA batters found it increasingly difficult to pierce the field with Annerie Dercksen, Kapp and Brits all getting leading edges to cover attempting big drives.
Ecclestone (1-21 off four overs), Freya Kemp (1-11 off three), Dean and Bell all frustrated the SA batters with their guile and control and the Proteas were a well beaten side well before the end.
Hosts England are through to the #T20WorldCup Final after a thumping win against South Africa at The Oval 💪
— ICC (@ICC) July 2, 2026
Follow the tournament LIVE, broadcast details 📺 https://t.co/niBjzedxPu pic.twitter.com/a3MizyBZQq
ENGLAND: Amy Jones (wk), Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Nat Sciver-Brunt (capt), Alice Capsey, Heather Knight, Freya Kemp, Dani Gibson, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell
SOUTH AFRICA: Laura Wolvaardt (capt), Tazmin Brits, Annerie Dercksen, Sune Luus, Marizanne Kapp, Nadine de Klerk, Chloe Tryon, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba.