BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – England trounced South Africa by 56 runs yesterday, as they ended an extremely disappointing campaign in the Women’s World Twenty20 Championship on a winning note.
The title-holders, already eliminated after losing their two first matches, piled up a challenging 141 for six after winning the toss and batting, and then ousted the Proteas for a miserable 85 from 17 overs.
With the loss South Africa finished the tournament winless, following defeats to West Indies and Australia.
England started shakily but pulled themselves around from 26 for two in the sixth over thanks to Lydia Greenway’s unbeaten 34 from 20 balls and Laura Marsh’s 33 from 32 balls.
Marsh, who struck two fours and a six, was involved in two partnerships that steadied England’s innings. She shared 30 for the third wicket with Claire Taylor (20) and then added another 44 for the fourth wicket with Greenway who counted a four and a six in her knock.
When Marsh and Morgan fell in successive overs for the addition of just four runs leaving England 104 for five in the 17th over, Greenway and Jenny Gun posted a quick-fire 32 for the sixth wicket from a mere 12 balls to rally the innings.
Gunn dominated the partnership, smashing four fours in scoring a cameo 21 from just 14 balls.
From the outset of their run chase, South Africa never looked the part and after Shandre Fritz (15) and Trisha Chetty (6) added 21 for the first wicket, the innings went into decline.
They were undone by 19-year-old off-spinner Danielle Wyatt who claimed four for 11 and medium pacer Nicola Shaw who finished with three for 17.
Captain Cri-Zelda Brits top scored with 20 from 23 balls but once she became Shaw’s third wicket at 66 for six in the 12th over, South Africa folded quickly.
