South Africa reach first-ever T20 World Cup final with thrilling win over England

South Africa edged England in a thrilling semi-final to reach their first-ever ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final with a six-run win at Newlands in Cape Town on Friday.

Tazmin Brits and Ayabonga Khaka played key roles in the victory for South Africa against England in semi-final.

Brits hit 68 in a South African total of 164 for four, then held four catches, two of them exceptional, as England were restricted to 158 for eight. South Africa will meet defending champions and heavy favourites Australia in the final at the same venue on Sunday.

Medium-pace bowler Khaka took three wickets in the 18th over to put the target just beyond England's reach.

Ayabonga Khaka delivers a ball during the semi-final match. AFP

"Khaka is a phenomenal bowler, one of the best in the world. She showed her class today," said South Africa skipper Sune Luus.

Nadine De Klerk celebrates reaching the final. Reuters

England captain Heather Knight admitted it had been a "brilliant game of cricket." "We did well to take it close. They bowled straight lines and made it tough for us," said Knight whose team had made the semi-finals by winning all four group games.

Fast bowler Shabnim Ismail made the first two breakthroughs after England made a fast start, then bowled Knight in the final over to snuff out England's last hope.

Tazmin Brits plays a shot during the semi-final match. AFP

Laura Wolvaardt and Brits launched South Africa's best batting performance of the tournament.

They followed up their unbeaten century opening stand in the last group match against Bangladesh by putting on 96 for the first wicket in 13.4 overs.
Wolvaardt was the senior partner, striking five fours and a six in making 53 off 44 balls before she was caught at backward point off left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone.

Brits then took over, hitting powerfully to score 68 off 55 balls. She hit six fours as well as two sixes in the space of three deliveries from leg-spinner Sarah Glenn.

England's Danni Wyatt and Sophia Dunkley raced to a 53-run opening stand in five overs before Ismail had Dunkley caught by Brits at midwicket for 28.

Two balls later Brits dived to take a sensational catch in the same position to dismiss Alice Capsey for nought.

South African players celebrate winning the semi-final match. AFP

Brits held another diving catch to dismiss Wyatt (34) at backward square leg and then calmly held a high hit from Nat Sciver-Brunt (40) at long-on.

Australia defeated India by five runs in another semi-final thriller on Thursday.

Brief scores:

South Africa 164-4 in 20 overs (T. Brits 68, L. Wolvaardt 53; S. Ecclestone 3-22) v England 158-8 in 20 overs (N. Sciver-Brunt 40, D. Wyatt 34, H. Knight 31; A. Khaka 4-29, S. Ismail 3-27).

Result: South Africa won by 6 runs

Toss: South Africa

Agence France-Presse /IANS