Sciver-Brunt’s 75 sends England into the Women’s T20 World Cup final
England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt made 75 on her return from injury as England beat South Africa by 40 runs at The Oval to set up a final against Australia at Lord’s.
Jul 3, 2026
England are back in a Women’s T20 World Cup final, and they have their captain to thank for it. Nat Sciver-Brunt marked her return from injury with 75 from 47 balls, then held two catches, as England beat South Africa by 40 runs at The Oval to book a meeting with Australia at Lord’s on Sunday.
Sciver-Brunt and Knight take control
South Africa’s quicks had been billed as the danger, but England’s top order handled them. Sciver-Brunt reached her fifty inside 35 balls, taking three boundaries off a single Nadine de Klerk over, and looked in complete control on a night when England badly needed her runs.
She was not alone. Heather Knight made 58 and the pair added 133 for the third wicket, the biggest stand of the knockout stage so far. Knight brought up her half-century by clearing midwicket for six, and by the time the partnership broke England were set for a total South Africa were always going to struggle to chase.
They finished on 169 for 5, a total that always looked above par. Nonkululeko Mlaba and Shabnim Ismail each picked up two wickets for South Africa, but the damage had been done in the middle overs when Sciver-Brunt and Knight refused to let the innings stall.
South Africa fall short again
Chasing 170, South Africa needed a fast start and did not get one. Tazmin Brits made a fifty and kept them in touch for a while, but wickets at the other end meant the required rate kept climbing. Lauren Bell and Charlie Dean took two apiece, England squeezed through the middle overs, and the chase quietly drifted out of reach. South Africa closed on 129 for 8, well short.
It is a familiar feeling for a side that keeps arriving at the last four with genuine talent and keeps running into an opponent with a little more experience of the big day. The semi-final has become their wall.
Australia await at Lord’s
England march on to a fifth T20 World Cup final, and it is the one everyone wanted: the two unbeaten teams of the tournament, England and Australia, at Lord’s on Sunday. Australia have owned this competition for the best part of a decade, and England will need Sciver-Brunt at her best again to end that run.