England Pay for Mid-Innings Errors as Proteas Advance

England paid dearly for mid-innings batter errors and a late bowling collapse, as South Africa secured a 125-run victory to advance to their first-ever 50-over World Cup final. Despite a four-wicket haul from Sophie Ecclestone, England’s mistakes proved costly.
Ecclestone’s double-strike, bowling Tazmin Brits and Anneke Bosch, was part of a stretch where South Africa lost three wickets for three runs, “all of it down to batter error.” This left them at 202 for six.
However, England couldn’t capitalize. Laura Wolvaardt (169) launched a stunning 28-ball, 69-run assault, destroying the death bowling and setting a massive 319-run total.
England’s own batting errors then cost them dearly. Heather Knight was dismissed for a duck, “flailing at one outside off-stump that she could easily have left.” This was part of a top-order collapse to one for three.
Marizanne Kapp (five for 20) was the beneficiary, as she tore through the English lineup to seal a historic win and end England’s campaign.