Captain Sciver-Brunt's 75 fires England into Women's T20 World Cup final with 40-run win over South Africa

England recover from top-order collapse

After South Africa chose to field, England's innings unraveled quickly inside four overs. Shabnim Ismail struck with her first ball, Amy Jones cutting to point, and Marizanne Kapp's slower ball castled Danni Wyatt-Hodge for 12. Alice Capsey was adjudged lbw to Ismail, a decision England opted not to review even though replays suggested a thin edge. At 23 for 3, the home crowd tensed up.

Sciver-Brunt's captain's innings

Returning from a calf injury that sidelined her for three group games, Nat Sciver-Brunt anchored the recovery with an immaculate 75 from 47 balls. She and former captain Heather Knight (58 from 47) shared a 133-run partnership, the highest ever in a Women's T20 World Cup knockout match. Both fell in the penultimate over to left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba, but not before lifting England to 169 for 5.

I was really nervous going in and quite emotional about it yesterday. The occasion and what we've been able to do as a team, I was trying to live up to the three games that I missed.

South Africa squeezed out

South Africa's chase started briskly through openers Tazmin Brits and Laura Wolvaardt, who added 43 in the powerplay. The turning point came when Wolvaardt tried to loft Linsey Smith over mid-on a second time and was spectacularly caught by Sophie Ecclestone. Brits reached 51 before she holed out to Sciver-Brunt, and the required run rate climbed sharply. Marizanne Kapp's dismissal for just 16 in the 11th over left South Africa needing 11 an over.

England's fielding turns the tide

England's fielding, a long-standing weakness in previous tournaments, was decisive. Ecclestone held two athletic catches to dismiss Wolvaardt and Suné Luus, while Danni Wyatt-Hodge ran out Sinalo Jafta with a direct hit. Lauren Bell (2 for 28) and Charlie Dean (two wickets) applied the finishing touches as South Africa limped to 129 for 8.

Final showdown with Australia

England will now face reigning champions Australia at a sold-out Lord's on Sunday. Australia have also won every match in the tournament and thrashed West Indies in the other semi-final. England lost the Ashes 16-0 eighteen months ago, a result that led to changes in leadership.

Standing up and going toe-to-toe with them is the way forward.