ICC Women's World Cup: England beat South Africa, reach final
The England women's cricket team has reached the final of the ICC Women's World Cup. On Thursday, England Women defeated South Africa Women in a crunch contest at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Batting first, England Women managed a challenging 293/8 in 50 overs. In response, the South African side faltered with the bat (156/10). England will face Australia in the final. Here's more.
How did the match pan out?
England lost Tammy Beaumont early on and then were reduced to 126/4 in the 26th over. However, Danielle Wyatt and Sophia Dunkley added a superb 116-run stand for the fifth wicket. Wyatt went on to hit 129 runs as Dunkley managed 60. England got to 293 in the end. In response, SA Women kept losing wickets and suffered a massive defeat.
Wyatt smashes second ODI century
Wyatt delivered for England Women, hammering a 129-run knock from 125 deliveries. She hammered 12 fours and enjoyed a strike rate of 103.20. Wyatt has now raced to 1,485 runs in ODIs at 22.16. This was Wyatt's second ODI century and her top score as well. In the ongoing World Cup, Wyatt has 267 runs at 38.14. She has one ton and a fifty.
Sophie Ecclestone bags six scalps
After contributing with an useful 24 down the order, Sophie Ecclestone was magical with the ball. She claimed six wickets for 36 runs to rip apart SA Women. Ecclestone has raced to 75 ODI wickets at 20.40. She is now the ninth England bowler to claim 75-plus wickets. The 6/36 is now her best performance in ODI cricket.
Third-best bowling figures in the World Cup
Ecclestone is now the highest wicket-taker in the ongoing ICC Women's World Cup. She has claimed 20 wickets at an average of 12.85. Ecclestone's 6/36 is now the third-best bowling figures in the Women's World Cup after New Zealand's Jacqueline Lord (6/10 vs IND Women in 1982) and Glenys Page (6/20 vs T&T Women in 1973).
Second fifty for Dunkley in the 2022 World Cup
Dunkley consumed 70 balls for her 60, hitting four fours. She now has 432 ODI runs at 30.85. This was her third ODI half-century. In the ongoing World Cup, Dunkley has scored 269 runs, smashing her second fifty. She has an average of 38.42.
Second English woman to claim six scalps
Ecclestone is just the second English cricketer to take six wickets in a World Cup match. Anya Shrubsole was the first England Woman to claim a six-wicket haul in the 2017 World Cup versus India Women.
