South Africa beat England enter maiden Women's T20 World Cup final, to face Australia in title clash
Cape Town, Feb 24: Pacers Shabnim Ismail and Ayabonga Khaka shared seven wickets between them as South Africa staged a spectacular fight-back to stun England by six runs and enter their maiden Women's T20 World Cup final here on Friday.
Openers Laura Wolvaardt (53) and Tazmin Britz (68) struck entertaining half-centuries to take South Africa to 164 for four in the second semifinal at Newlands.
The game went down to the wire thanks to the efforts of Ismail (3/27) and Khaka (4/29), who both came up with momentum changing overs. The 2009 champions England ended with 158 for eight in 20 overs.
Danielle Wyatt (34) and Sophia Dunkley (28) made a flying start to take England to 53 for no loss in five overs.
Star pacer Ismail brought back South Africa in the game with a double strike in the sixth over. Both Dunkley and incoming batter Alice Capsey (0) were caught at midwicket by Britz. The one-handed catch to dismiss Capsey off a short ball stood out among the four catches she took in the game.
With 81 needed off last 60 balls and eight wickets in hand, England were expected to complete the task before South Africa made a roaring comeback, egged on by a loud home crowd.
Medium pacer Khaka turned the game on its head by striking thrice in the 18th over, sending back Amy Jones, Sophie Ecclestone and Katherine Sciver-Brunt.
With 13 needed off the last over and England still had hope with skipper Heather Knight in the middle. Ismail got rid of her to seal a special result for South Africa.
Earlier, the hosts' star batter Wolvaardt and Britz shared a 96-run stand to lay the groundwork for a competitive total.
England's lead spinner Sophie Ecclestone was the pick of the bowlers taking three wickets for 22 runs in four overs.
It was a second successive fifty from the 23-year-old Wolvaardt whose innings comprised five fours and a glorious off-drive than went all the way for a six.
Ecclestone was the one to provide the breakthrough for England as Wolvaardt, trying to play on the on side, got a leading edge and was caught by Charlotte Dean.
Britz changed gears following her opening partner's dismissal. Her back to straight sixes off leggie Sarah Glenn was the highlight of her innings.
Ecclestone pulled things back in the death overs with wickets of Chloe Tyron and Nadine de Klerk in a three run over before Marizanne Kapp got a much needed 23 not out off 13 balls to take the total beyond 160.
Katherine Sciver-Brunt's last over went for 18 runs and included a boundary off a waist high full toss.
Kapp ended the innings on a high with back to back fours.
South Africa were able to collect 66 runs off the last six overs.
What a feeling for South Africa 🇿🇦#ENGvSA | #T20WorldCup | #TurnItUp pic.twitter.com/GW8y1tdvAv
— ICC (@ICC) February 24, 2023
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Woman dies hours after delivery baby girl in Hassan; Family alleges medical negligence
Hassan: The death of a 30-year-old woman within hours of delivering a baby girl has triggered protests in Hassan, with her family alleging medical negligence and delay in treatment.
The deceased has been identified as Shruthi (30), wife of Puneeth of Hanumanahalli village in Hassan taluk. She was originally from K.R. Pet and was working as a guest teacher at the Government Primary School in Chikkagadenahalli. Her husband Puneeth is employed as a bus driver at the K.R. Pet depot.
Shruthi was admitted to the Government Women and Children’s Hospital in Hassan for delivery. She delivered a healthy baby girl through normal delivery. However, soon after childbirth, her health reportedly deteriorated.
Family members alleged that doctors informed them she required a large quantity of blood. They said blood was arranged immediately, but they were later advised to shift her to another hospital for further treatment. As it was Sunday, timely treatment was not provided, the family claimed. Shruthi reportedly died on the way to another hospital.
Her husband Puneeth alleged that negligence on the part of doctors led to the tragedy.
Meanwhile, the newborn baby is undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit at the Government Women and Children’s Hospital (HIMS), Hassan. Doctors are said to be monitoring the infant’s condition.
The incident falls under the Hassan Town police station limits. Police have begun collecting information, and further legal action may be taken based on medical records and the post-mortem report.
