South Africa’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup campaign ended at the semi-final stage as England, powered by a record partnership between Nat Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight, completed a 40-run win to reach the final, at The Oval in London, England, on Thursday, 2 July 2026.
Sciver-Brunt, marking her return from injury, and Knight both made half-centuries in a record partnership for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup semi-finals, and South Africa’s chase fell well short despite a half-century from Tazmin Brits, in front of another record attendance.
The result marked revenge for England, the ICC’s second-ranked side, who had been beaten by the fifth-ranked Proteas Women in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 and ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 semi-finals. Charlotte Edwards’ side now head to Lord’s to face Australia in Sunday’s final.
Sciver-Brunt was straight back into the action on her return as England, inserted by South Africa, lost three powerplay wickets. Amy Jones cut Shabnim Ismail straight to point for two, while the tournament’s leading run-scorer, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, was bowled for 12 by Marizanne Kapp, who finished with one for 16 from four straight overs. Alice Capsey was trapped LBW by Ismail for one, leaving England 23 for 3 and bringing together a pairing with 284 combined T20 International appearances.
Sciver-Brunt, who replaced Sophia Dunkley in the lineup, took her time to consolidate alongside Knight before accelerating at the halfway stage. Back-to-back boundaries took the stand past 50 in the 11th over, and the team reached three figures two overs later. The pair combined touch with raw power, Knight striking her first six of the tournament before three consecutive Sciver-Brunt boundaries lifted the score past 150.
The partnership had reached an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final record 133 when Nonkululeko Mlaba dismissed both Sciver-Brunt, for 75, and Knight, for 58, in the penultimate over. Four byes to close the innings saw England post 169 for 5, leaving South Africa needing the second-highest chase in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup history to reach a third consecutive final. Mlaba finished with two for 25 and Ismail two for 31.
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South Africa’s chase started well, and captain Laura Wolvaardt was not far from her fluent best before Sophie Ecclestone took a smart catch off Linsey Smith to dismiss her for 17. Freya Kemp then had Annerie Dercksen caught by Knight for three as South Africa stumbled to 49 for 2.
The required rate was above 10 an over by the halfway mark, and the dangerous Kapp was gone for five soon after, finding Sciver-Brunt with a leading edge off Charlie Dean. The rate kept climbing, and Suné Luus, back in the side for Dané van Niekerk, departed in the 14th over, cramped by a Lauren Bell short ball with the score 91 for 4.
Brits reached her half-century soon after, but a leading edge off the very next ball found Sciver-Brunt off Dean, and her innings ended on 51. Chloé Tryon was bowled by Ecclestone for 12, Wyatt-Hodge ran out Sinalo Jafta for one with a spectacular direct hit, and Bell bowled Ayabonga Khaka for four as South Africa closed 40 short on 129 for 8. Kemp returned figures of one for 11, Bell two for 28 and Dean two for 31.
For the Proteas Women it was a chastening end to a campaign that had promised so much, from a record chase against India to a nerveless qualification at Lord’s, and Brits’ emergence as an opener of real substance stands among the positives to carry forward. England, meanwhile, will face Australia at Lord’s on Sunday, the fourth time the sides have met in the final, with Australia victorious on the previous three occasions.
The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Final
Sunday, 5 July at 16h30: Australia vs. England at Lord’s, London
South Africa Women Starting XI against England at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Semi-final, The Oval, London, on 2 July 2026
1. Laura Wolvaardt (Captain)
2. Tazmin Brits
3. Annerie Dercksen
4. Suné Luus
5. Marizanne Kapp
6. Nadine de Klerk
7. Chloé Tryon
8. Sinalo Jafta (Wicketkeeper)
9. Shabnim Ismail
10. Ayabonga Khaka
11. Nonkululeko Mlaba
Substitutes
12. Tumi Sekhukhune
13. Kayla Reyneke
14. Karabo Meso
15. Dané van Niekerk
England Women Starting XI against South Africa
1. Danni Wyatt-Hodge
2. Amy Jones (Wicketkeeper)
3. Nat Sciver-Brunt (Captain)
4. Alice Capsey
5. Heather Knight
6. Freya Kemp
7. Dani Gibson
8. Charlie Dean
9. Sophie Ecclestone
10. Linsey Smith
11. Lauren Bell
Substitutes
12. Tilly Corteen-Coleman
13. Sophia Dunkley
14. Lauren Filer
15. Issy Wong
Main Photo Caption: Nat Sciver-Brunt raised her bat on reaching a half-century as England posted a competitive total against the Proteas Women in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final, at The Oval in London, England, on 2 July 2026. All Photos: Getty Images via ICC
Photo 2 Caption: Shabnim Ismail celebrates after taking the Proteas Women’s first strike against England, at the T20 World Cup 2026 semi-final on Thursday.
Photo 3 Caption: Marizanne Kapp struck with the wicket of England opener Danni Wyatt-Hodge as the Proteas Women bowled against England in the semi-final.
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