08 Oct Sciver-Brunt And Wyatt-Hodge Bat England To Victory Over Proteas Women
SHARJAH: The experienced duo of Nat Sciver-Brunt and Danni Wyatt-Hodge led England to a seven-wicket win over the Proteas Women in their second ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 match at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday evening.
Sciver-Brunt top-scored with an unbeaten 48* from 36 balls (6 fours), supported by Wyatt-Hodge’s measured 43 from 43 deliveries (4 fours), as England successfully chased down South Africa’s total of 124/6, which was built around captain Laura Wolvaardt’s 42 off 39 balls (3 fours).
South Africa won the toss and chose to bat, with openers Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits (13) getting off to a steady start, taking the score to 31/0 in the fifth over before Brits was caught in the deep off the bowling of Linsey Smith (1/32).
By the end of the powerplay, South Africa had reached 37/1, with Wolvaardt and Anneke Bosch (18) digging in against a disciplined England spin attack to reach 54/1 at the halfway point of the innings.Runs continued to be hard to come by in challenging conditions. Wolvaardt and Bosch added 40 for the second wicket before Bosch was bowled by Sarah Glenn (1/18) in the 13th over, with South Africa on 71/2.
Marizanne Kapp (26) then came to the crease, looking to inject some momentum into the innings. However, Sophie Ecclestone (2/15) struck a crucial blow by dismissing Wolvaardt, leaving the Proteas at 88/3 in the 16th over.
Despite the further loss of Chloé Tryon (2), Kapp and youngster Annerie Dercksen (20*) helped South Africa reach triple figures before Ecclestone and a run-out at the non-striker’s end accounted for Kapp and Suné Luus (1) in quick succession. Thanks to some late boundaries from Dercksen, the Proteas finished on a total of 124/6 from their 20 overs.
In reply, England were made to work hard for their runs early on, with Kapp (1/17) and Ayabonga Khaka (0/21) keeping openers Wyatt-Hodge and Maia Bouchier (8) quiet before Kapp trapped Bouchier LBW.
England ended the powerplay on 28/1, with new batter Alice Capsey (19) and Wyatt-Hodge adding a vital 12 runs in the sixth over to get their innings back on track.
The pair continued to apply pressure on a slow wicket until Capsey became the second wicket to fall, caught and bowled by Nadine de Klerk (1/23), with England reaching 55/2 after 10 overs.
With 70 runs needed from 60 balls, Sciver-Brunt and Wyatt-Hodge combined for a match-winning partnership of 64, guiding England to the brink of victory. Though Nonkululeko Mlaba (1/22) dismissed Wyatt-Hodge in the 18th over with England on 116/3, Sciver-Brunt saw her team home, sealing the win with four balls to spare and keeping England at the top of Group B.
The Proteas Women will aim to bounce back in their next match against Scotland on Wednesday, 09 October, at the Dubai International Stadium at 14h00 (12h00 SAST).
Proteas Women Squad – ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 (United Arab Emirates):
Laura Wolvaardt (Captain) (Fidelity Titans), Anneke Bosch (Fidelity Titans), Tazmin Brits (DP World Lions), Nadine de Klerk (World Sports Betting Western Province), Annerie Dercksen (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Mieke de Ridder (Six Gun Grill Garden Route Badgers), Ayanda Hlubi (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Sinalo Jafta (DP World Lions), Marizanne Kapp (World Sports Betting Western Province), Ayabonga Khaka (DP World Lions), Suné Luus (Fidelity Titans), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Seshnie Naidu (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Tumi Sekhukhune (DP World Lions), Chloé Tryon (DP World Lions)
Traveling Reserve
Miané Smit* (Recon Tactical Free State)
* Uncapped
South Africa’s Fixtures – ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 (03 – 20 October)
Sunday, 20 October @ 16h00 SAST: Final (Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai)
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Cricket South Africa (CSA), an affiliate of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) and a full member of the International Cricket Council (ICC), is the national governing body for the sport of cricket in South Africa and administers all aspects of South African cricket, men, and women, both in the professional and amateur sphere.