Classy Sciver-Brunt steers England to victory against South Africa

Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Nat Sciver-Brunt helped England negotiate a potentially tricky chase as they defeated South Africa by seven wickets to make it two from two at the Women’s T20 World Cup.
South Africa’s 124 for six was the highest total at Sharjah in this tournament but a 64-run stand in 55 balls between opener Wyatt-Hodge and talismanic all-rounder Sciver-Brunt broke the back of the pursuit.
While Wyatt-Hodge departed for a run-a-ball 43 with 11 needed from the last two overs, Sciver-Brunt got them over the line with four deliveries to spare, creaming her sixth four to seal England’s victory.
Sciver-Brunt finished on 48 not out off 36 balls on another slow and low surface as England backed up their campaign-opening win over Bangladesh by avenging last year’s semi-final defeat by South Africa.
“We controlled the chase brilliantly, that partnership was outstanding to watch,” captain Heather Knight said afterwards.
“You could see [Wyatt-Hodge] getting frustrated, she is not used to scoring at that strike rate, but sometimes it is about finding a way. Danni took really smart options. Her and Nat, with the way they controlled it and the way they ran, it was a proper job.”
England, who also lost to the Proteas at the 2020 edition, were grateful for their opponents’ profligacy in the field, while several shots from Wyatt-Hodge and Sciver-Brunt bounced safe.
England put down four chances – all of them difficult – but Sophie Ecclestone took two for 15 and Sarah Glenn one for 15, with South Africa unable to put their foot down as they became bogged down by spin.South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits both registered unbeaten fifties in their 10-wicket thrashing of the West Indies and the openers enjoyed slices of fortune early on.
Heather Knight and Glenn put down diving chances to reprieve Brits, whose luck ran out when she charged Linsey Smith, while Wolvaardt edged Ecclestone but Amy Jones, up to the stumps, could not cling on.
Wolvaardt underpinned South Africa’s innings with 42 off 39 balls but in attempting to inject some urgency into proceedings, she lost her shape to Ecclestone and was clean bowled.
Marizanne Kapp had better luck with 26 off 17 balls but was castled by Ecclestone as South Africa kept being pegged back but Annerie Dercksen’s 20 not out off 11 deliveries helped them finish well.
England had made just 118 against Bangladesh at the same venue 48 hours earlier and although conditions did seem as difficult on Monday, they found themselves 15 for one after five overs in reply.
Alice Capsey was dropped on nought but got England going with 19 off 16 balls, sweeping and using her feet well to the spinners to take three fours, before tamely chipping back Nadine de Klerk.
Wyatt-Hodge, who made 41 against Bangladesh, was dropped on eight and she and Sciver-Brunt rode their luck on occasion as several chances from both batters bounced in front of fielders or in vacant areas.
But the pair’s hard running between the wickets and the odd boundary, with Sciver-Brunt especially judicious on the front foot, carried England to within sight of victory.
Wyatt-Hodge was stumped after advancing and getting in a tangle to Nonkululeko Mlaba but with Sciver-Brunt at the crease, England were never in trouble. She got England home with a sumptuous cover drive.
PA