Defending champions England revived their hopes of reaching the final of the Women’s World Cup, galloping to a thumping seven-wicket win over South Africa in a crucial Super Six match at Barabati Stadium here on Sunday. The lop-sided match, which lasted less than three hours, left many spectators, who usually come to the stadium late after having lunch at home, in an embarrassing position.
Put into bat, South Africa surrendered meekly to the pace-spin combination of Anya Shrubsole and Danielle Wyatt as they were the skittled out for a paltry 77, the lowest total of the tournament.
In reply, England rode on a 55-run unfinished partnership for the fourth-wicket between Arran Brindle and Lydia Greenway to overhaul the target in 9.3 overs.
Shrubsole, the 21-year-old right-arm medium pacer from Somerset, devastated the South Africa innings, scalping the top five wickets for 17 runs.
This was her maiden five-wicket haul and career-best bowling performance in the ODIs. Shrubsole bowled full 10 overs out of which five were maidens. She was rewarded with the player of the match award.
Among the South Africa batters, Dane van Niekerk put up some resistance and emerged top scorer with an unbeaten 17.
Brief scores:
At Mumbai: Sri Lanka 131 in 45.2 overs (D Rasangika 43; E Orborne 3-9, L Sthalekar 2-26) lost to Australia 132-1 in 22.2 overs (M Lanning 37, R Haynes 71 no).
At Cuttack: South Africa 77 in 29.3 overs (Dane van Niekerk 17; Anya Shrubsole 5-17, Danielle Wyatt 3-7) lost to England 81-3 in 9.3 overs (Arran Brindle 28 no, Lydia Greenway 25 no; Chloe Tryon 2-14).