OPPOSITES ATTRACT – Calm meets chaos aka England v South Africa in T20 semi-final
England have seemingly cruised through the group phase of the ICC T20 Women’s World Cup. South Africa have scrapped their way through. Thursday sees the clash of styles go head-to-head in a mouthwatering semi-final at The Oval, for a place in the final.
Even after losing their captain, Nat Sciver-Brunt for a few games, England have looked in control of their matches.
In the heat against the West Indies at Lord’s last week, there was no sign of wilting as they batted their way to their highest T20 score at the Home of Cricket.
The interesting thing was, it didn’t even seem like a particularly swashbuckling innings, just a team very much in control.
England looked composed, and even the early wicket of opener Amy Jones didn’t rattle them. But maybe that’s thanks to the form that Danni Wyatt-Hodge is in.
Having opened her tournament with a century at Edgbaston, she hit 65 off 42 balls at Lord’s. Against New Zealand a few days later, she reached 89 not out. This is a woman in electrifying form.
But England, like Australia, aren’t reliant on a couple of players – there is strength in depth among both batters and bowlers. Everyone is playing their part.
At The Oval, England brushed reigning champions New Zealand aside with relative ease. But South Africa in the semi-finals is another prospect.
South Africa’s form can best be described as unpredictable – although this is part of their charm. Capable of beating any team in the world on their day, they hammered England in last year’s ODI World Cup. But they have been inconsistent at the T20 World Cup so far.
In all honesty, they were lucky to get through to the semi-final at all.
In their must-win match against Bangladesh at Lord’s last weekend, they only had to chase 117. It looked like the game might be over very quickly.
The Proteas made hard work of it.
Captain and opener Laura Wolvaardt was bowled out first ball by Marufa Akter.
They rallied and Tazmin Brits (20) and Annerie Dercksen (45) steadied the ship before wickets began to tumble and South Africa fans got very twitchy.
At one point it looked like the Proteas had forgotten what they were supposed to do. The South African journalist in the press box next to me exclaimed, “I just want to see some cricket. This is not cricket”.
Despite the scare, they scrabbled over the line with four balls remaining.
But earlier in the tournament they beat India convincingly, with Marizanne Kapp hitting 89. Dercksen made 52 as they beat Pakistan, and Tazmin Brits smashed 114 against newcomers Netherlands – the highest innings of the T20 World Cup so far.
Bowling-wise, both England and South Africa have plenty of options, neither team relying too heavily on a single player.
So it comes down to a clash of styles – calm, consistent displays of an in-form team versus the chaos and unpredictability of a dangerous opponent.
What South Africa lack in consistency they make up for in flair, but you never know which version you’re going to get.
Throughout this tournament, England have looked in control. South Africa have not.
But that’s what makes the Proteas so dangerous and this match-up so exciting. If South Africa put a performance together, they can beat anyone in the world. But England have, so far, been unflappable.
Calm meets chaos in semi-final two.
Where to watch:
UK and Republic of Ireland
The Oval – Thursday 2 July at 18.30.
Free-to-air on Sky Mix (Freeview channel 11; Freesat channel 141; Sky channel 151).
Other territory broadcasters:
Netherlands – NOS TV & ICC.tv
India – Star Sports & JIO Hotstar
Australia – Amazon Prime Video
New Zealand – Sky Sports
Bangladesh – Rabbithole & ICC.tv
Sri Lanka – Dialog TV/TV Supreme/Star Sports
Pakistan – Myco/PTV/Geo Super/Tamasha/Tampad
Caribbean Islands – ESPN
Middle East and North Africa – Starzplay
USA and Canada – Willow TV
Singapore – Hub Sports 4 & ICC.tv
Malaysia and Hong Kong – CricBuzz & ICC.tv
Pacific Islands – TVWAN Sports & ICC.tv
Latin America – Disney+
Rest of the World – ICC.TV
