On Tuesday before the match between the in-form England and West Indies the news came through that despite the outcome of the game in Dubai, South Africa would advance.

If England won, South Africa would qualify on points (SA 6, WI 4). If the West Indies had won, South Africa would have a better net run rate than England. If it was a tie and the West Indies won in a Super Over, then South Africa will have better net run rate than both England and the Windies.

As it turned out, the Windies beat England by six wickets and this saw the Three Lionesses being eliminated. England scored 141/7 in their allotted 20 overs with Nat Sciver-Brunt scoring 57. Afy Fletcher was the pick of the Windies bowlers with 3/21 in four overs.

In reply, the captain Hayley Matthews and Qiana Joseph put on a 102 run partnership for the first wicket in 12.2 overs to set the tone for the Windies innings. The team from the Caribbean managed to chase down the target in 18 overs to move up to the top of Group B.

The English did themselves no favours by dropping five catches in the Windies innings.

The West Indies. Photo: Cricinfo

South Africa’s only defeat at the T20 World Cup was a seven wicket loss to England, while in their opening game, they thumped the Windies by ten wickets.

As South Africa finished second in Group B, they will face the defending champions, Australia, on Thursday in a repeat of the 2023 final in Cape Town. This match in Dubai is scheduled to start at 16:00.

The Windies will be up against New Zealand on Friday and this semi-final in Sharjah is scheduled to start at 16:00.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek dg