SA Women vs ENG Women, 2nd Semi-Final at Cape Town, WT20 WC, Feb 24 2023 - Ball by Ball Commentary

South Africa then make history by making a final for the first time. In fact they are the first South African side to make the final of a Cricket World Cup. They set up date with Australia, who are chronic World Cup winners. Will there be a new champion in this edition of will the current holders defend their crown? We shall find that out on Sunday. Hope to have your company. On behalf of PDP, Venkat and me, Sudarshanan, goodbye! Ciao, aficionados!

6:22pm Presentation.

Heather Knight: "Gutted. Brilliant game of cricket. We did well to take it close. They bowled straight lines and made it tough for us. This group doesn't define us as a group. There is a huge amount of talent. We are starting to build something nicely. Sometimes fine margins happen and we lose the game. We are clear on how we want to go with T20 cricket. The girls embraced it but didn't come off today. I took a moment at the end to take it all in. Good to see the crowd in and apply pressure on us. Just the professionalism, since I started. The amount of investment that has gone in since I started. The people yesterday and today were certainly entertained. [On the finals] I'll be watching, gutted I won't be there. Credit to Sune and her team."

Sune Luus: "First of all, England, well played. It was a great match. We were in and out of the game and it went in waves. We do have the best bowling in the world but it was against the best batting attack in the world. We kept saying to them they need to be brave and play free cricket. [Khaka] She is a phenomenal bowler, one of the best in the world. Showed her class today. [The final] It is massive. Every game we play, we keep making history and keep inspiring a nation. I hope with one game to go we keep doing that." Thanks the crowd and hopes that they turn up to support them for the final on Sunday. "[Kapp in a final] No pressure, Kappie! I think this one's for her. The team has been working hard for two years. Has been playing extremely good cricket."

Hari : "It is seen in the last 6 months that the teams who lose to a comparatively weaker team once in the group stage, go ahead and lift the trophy. In the men's T20 world cup ENG lost to IRE in the league match, but then won the final. Even in the FIFA, ARG were defeated by Saudi in the group matches but then they came back to lift the cup. Can SA-W can repeat the same?"

Morten: "Great game. But how could Khaka not be player of the match? Beggars belief. "

6:19pm A short recap of this cracker of a game. England had rollicked away to a rapid start in chase of 165, something they had never hunted down in a T20 World Cup game. But then Ismail - she always loves the big stage and high pace - struck twice in the last over of the powerplay to peg them back. There was a brief resurgence then from England via Nat Sciver-Brunt and Knight but Khaka made crucial inroads in the middle order and picked three in her last over to puncture any hopes of an English win.

This was after Wolvaardt and Brits help get them off to a positive start and gave them a base to explode later on. South Africa scored 97 off their last ten overs with Kapp stepping up with a 13-ball 27, including an 18-run final over. South Africa used their home support to rally and register their first win in the semi-final of a World Cup - 50-overs or T20 - and set up the title-clash.

6:11pm Scenes at Newlands! Tears all around - of joy in the South Africa camp, of despair in the England one. Ismail knows what she has done. Kapp knows what it means for her. And South Africa very well know how much this would mean given the lead up to it all. Ismail signals to the dugout before getting a warm hug from Tryon. Glenn cannot believe and has her face covered. Knight puts on a brave face as she walks out to shake hands with the opposition.

Lovely scenes those. Many of these players have played together. Lauren Winfield-Hill, Ismail and Kapp have been team-mates at the Hundred. That hug between LWH and Ismail was as warm as it could be. Wolvaardt knows a few of her counterparts. A thorough, top comeback from South Africa with the ball.

Tazmin Brits, player of the match: "As a cricketer you dream to show up at such moments. Thank you to the crowd, without them it wouldn't have been possible. Nice to have backing from your country. We tried to accelerate at the beginning but got a measure of it as the game went on. 140 was a minimum but we got 160. I wrote it down on paper. [On that catch] I still cannot believe it. I am impressed and happy with it. We need to praise and glory to God for giving us this opportunity."

AsRa: "amazing SF matches... purely based on these two matches, all 4 teams were evenly placed irrespective of their rankings, previous wins / losses or who won / lost. "

Baba Fasi: "From losing to Srilanka in the Tournament Opener to Stroming into the Final by Winning against England in the Semis, it's simply incredible comeback by SA.."

Rajkumar Lingav: "Wonderful game of cricket. Wonderful gestures shown by both South African and England players. Respect, Cricket!"

Charlie Dean. 41 wickets in T20 World Cups for South Africa, joint-most with Anya Shrubsole.

12 off 5, Knight on strike. All four fielder deep on the on side.

Game worthy of being called the semi-final. 13 needed off six legal balls. Shabnim Ismail, who clocked one at 128 kph, to steam in. What a game!

Glenn should target even number runs here to have Knight on strike in the next over.

Kapp to bowl the penultimate over. 25 off 12 is a bit too far you'd think. But Knight is still in...

Sarah: "Khaka is such a poised player. Too cool ! "

Katherine Sciver-Brunt. Does she have that 18-run final over in her mind still? England need 25 off 13...

Eli: "Four catches now for Brits. That ties the all-time record for catches in a match in Women's T20Is."

Sophie Ecclestone is the next batter in.

28 off 18 needed. How are those nails doing, eh? Ayabonga Khaka for her last.

Kumar: "Brits has catching monopoly today"