Sciver-Brunt, Knight repair early damage from Kapp and Ismail

South Africa struck three times in the power play, but England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight compiled a century partnership as the home side reached 169 for five in the second semifinal of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup at The Oval in London on Thursday night.

Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail cut through the England top-order after skipper Laura Wolvaardt had won the toss and put England in to bat.

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 the excellent Kapp had bowled out her quota of overs by the seventh over.

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.

Her innings included 11 fours and a six.

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.

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.