Heather Knight: “Gutted. A brilliant game of cricket. We did well to take it close. They bowled straight lines and made it tough for us. This group doesn’t define us as a group. There is a huge amount of talent. We are starting to build something nice. Sometimes fine margins happen and we lose the game. We are clear on how we want to go with T20 cricket. The girls embraced it but didn’t come off today. I took a moment, in the end, to take it all in. Good to see the crowd in and apply pressure on us. Just the professionalism, since I started. The amount of investment that has gone in since I started. The people yesterday and today were certainly entertained. [On the finals] I’ll be watching, gutted I won’t be there. Credit to Sune and her team.”
Sune Luus: “First of all, England, well played. It was a great match. We were in and out of the game and it went in waves. We do have the best bowling in the world but it was against the best batting attack in the world. We kept saying to them they need to be brave and play free cricket. [Khaka] She is a phenomenal bowler, one of the best in the world. Showed her class today. [The final] It is massive. Every game we play, we keep making history and keep inspiring a nation. I hope with one game to go we keep doing that.” Thanks to the crowd and hope that they turn up to support them for the final on Sunday. “[Kapp in a final] No pressure, Kappie! I think this one is for her. The team has been working hard for two years. Has been playing extremely good cricket.”
Pitch and weather: Newlands has hosted 16 T20s this summer across the SA20 and Women’s World Cup and its square is showing signs of late-season fatigue. Apart from fairly low and sometimes uneven bounce, the pitches have lacked pace and offered some turn which is contrary to what teams usually expect in South Africa. Only England has seemed free-flowing at this venue while bowlers on all sides have learned not to err on the short side but pitch it up instead. Temperatures are cooler than last week, with the maximum expected in the mid-20s, no rain, and only the gentlest of breezes.
ENG WMN vs SA WMN Highlights today, Friday 24-2-2023. 2nd Semi-Final, Newlands, Cape Town, ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023.
Toss: Sune Luus says South Africa will bat first.
England Women team: 1 Danni Wyatt, 2 Sophia Dunkley, 3 Alice Capsey, 4 Nat Sciver-Brunt, 5 Heather Knight (capt), 6 Amy Jones (wk), 7 Katherine Sciver-Brunt, 8 Sophie Ecclestone, 9 Charlie Dean, 10 Sarah Glenn, 11 Lauren Bell
South Africa Women team: 1 Tazmin Brits, 2 Laura Wolvaardt, 3 Marizanne Kapp, 4 Suné Luus (capt), 5 Chloe Tryon, 6 Anneke Bosch, 7 Nadine de Klerk, 8 Sinalo Jafta (wk), 9 Shabnim Ismail, 10 Ayabonga Khaka, 11 Nonkululekho Mlaba
Head to Head In T20I’s: 22
England Women Won: 19
South Africa Women Won: 3
England Women T20I Rankings: 2nd
South Africa Women T20I Rankings: 5th
Form guide
(last five completed T20I’s, most recent first)
England Women WWWWW
South Africa Women WLWLW
Match Timings: 1:00 PM GMT | 3:00 PM Local
Umpires – Claire Polosak, Jacqueline Williams
TV Umpire – Eloise Sheridan
Match Referee – GS Lakshmi
Reserve Umpire – Vrinda Rathi
Match number – WT20I no. 1377
