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10th over: England 34-3 (Sciver-Brunt 17, Capsey 15) Close! Sciver-Brunt tries to drive Khaka and dragsthe ball past leg stump for a single. Capsey walks down the track and edges Khaka wide of the keeper for four; that’s her first false stroke I think.
England are still in all sorts – they need 286 from 240 balls – but they’ve recovered well after collapsing to 1 for 3.
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Updated at 10.03 EDT
9th over: England 29-3 (Sciver-Brunt 16, Capsey 11) Nadine de Klerk replaces Kapp, who is heading off the field after an immense spell of 4-2-8-2. She doesn’t look in any distress so I’m sure she’ll be back.
Sciver-Brunt reaches to drive the third ball through the covers for four, a shot of class and authority. She plays a similar stroke next ball, but this time Dercksen swoops to her right to make a fine stop.
De Klerk and Jafta appeal for a catch down the leg side when Sciver-Brunt flicks at a loose delivery. Nobody else is interested.
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8th over: England 24-3 (Sciver-Brunt 11, Capsey 11) A wide ball from Khaka is blasted through backward point for four by Capsey. Given the situation, she has started with an impressive calmness. South Africa might turn to Nonkululeko Mlaba sooner rather than later as Capsey has a very poor record against left-arm spin.
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7th over: England 20-3 (Sciver-Brunt 11, Capsey 7) Sciver-Brunt chases a wide half-volley from Kapp and is beaten. Given how well Kapp has bowled so far, you’d imagine that was deliberate; the knowing smile on her face also suggests as much.
NSB edges for four later in the over – there is a slip but it was well wide of her. England are in so much trouble it’s not even funny. And yet, while Sciver-Brunt is at the crease, a miracle is always possible.
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Updated at 09.55 EDT
6th over: England 15-3 (Sciver-Brunt 7, Capsey 6) Sciver-Brunt threads Khaka nicely through extra cover for four her first boundary. England have stopped the bleeding; now they just need to score 305 from 44 overs.
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5th over: England 10-3 (Sciver-Brunt 3, Capsey 5) Kapp finally concedes some runs off her 15th delivery when Sciver-Brunt, on the walk, forces a couple through the covers. The ball isn’t moving all over the place – but it’s doing enough, and her line and length are relentless.
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Updated at 09.45 EDT
4th over: England 7-3 (Sciver-Brunt 1, Capsey 5) Khaka started with a wide but has been good since then. The required rate is already pushing seven an over but England can’t even think about that at the moment. Their route to victory (I know, I know) involves seeing off the new ball and teeing off in the last 15-20 overs. Nat Sciver-Brunt needs to score 170 not out, basically. No pressure.
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3rd over: England 5-3 (Sciver-Brunt 0, Capsey 4) Sciver-Brunt takes no risks at all against Kapp, who thus bowls a second maiden. Her figures are the stuff of fantasy: 2-0-2-2.
This is shaping up to be one of the greatest World Cup turnarounds in any sport. Twenty-five days ago, South Africa were bowled out for 69 by England, who won by 10 wickets with 214 balls to spare.
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2nd over: England 5-3 (Sciver-Brunt 0, Capsey 4) Alice Capsey, promoted to No5, blasts her first ball for four and defends the rest of the over.
Remember how everyone thought England had got the best possible semi-final opponent?
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Ayabonga Khaka started her spell with a wide, which at least got England on the board. The first legal delivery was back of a length and shaved the edge as Beaumont tried to force the ball through the off side. Beaumont reviewed with a nervous look on her face; technology showed a thin but undeniable edge.
A few minutes ago – that’s how it feels – South Africa were 202 for 6 and in a bit of trouble. Now they are all over England like a cheap cliche.
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Updated at 09.33 EDT
WICKET! England 1-3 (Beaumont c Jafta b Khaka 0)
This is astonishing. England’s top three have all been dismissed for nought!
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Updated at 09.31 EDT
1st over: England 0-2 (Beaumont 0, Sciver-Brunt 0) Nat Sciver-Brunt, whose head must be on a spin cycle, defends the last ball of the over. A double-wicket maiden from Kapp!
“Don’t want to be too negative and England could still chase this down but I am intrigued as to where you think England would go from here should they lose?” writes Will Padmore, or rather wrote Will Padmore befoer they lost two wickets for nought. “A loss would reflect the recent trend of failure to perform when there is any sort of pressure on the match yet England’s best performers this World Cup have generally been the players closer to the end of their careers. Sciver-Brunt, Beaumont, and Knight unlikely to make the next World Cup yet take them out of this team and it looks so much worse. Does it get worse before it gets better?”
The bowling attack looks fine in the long-term, despite what happened today, and there are batters like Davina Perrin to come in. There will be a bit of transition I’m sure, but with England’s resources I can’t see them falling too far.
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Updated at 09.29 EDT
Heather Knight reaches for a wide delivery, feet stuck in cement, and drags it back onto the stumps. Kapp screams so hard with delight that she almost falls over. Champions deliver when it matters most; Marizanne Kapp’s first over has put South Africa on the cusp of their first ever ODI World Cup final.
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WICKET! England 0-2 (Knight b Kapp 0)
Scenes upon scenes in Guwahati!
Oh Heather! Photograph: Anupam Nath/APShare
Updated at 09.44 EDT
WICKET! England 0-1 (Jones b Kapp 0)
Sensational bowling from Marizanne Kapp! Her second ball jags back through the gate to hit off and middle stumps. That delivery was as near perfect as dammit: the length was spot on and it came back a mile off the seam. Jones pushed defensively and was beaten all ends up.
Oh Amy! Photograph: Anupam Nath/APShare
Updated at 09.45 EDT
It’s nearly time for the England innings. Under normal circumstances the openers would be fairly content to see off Marizanne Kapp’s new-ball spell. Tonight, dear reader, England don’t have that luxury.
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Thanks Tanya, hello everyone. England fans may have to harness their hopes after that astounding innings from Laura Wolvaardt. Numbers can’t do it justice but one statgasm is too good to ignore: at one stage, towards the end of her innings, Wolvaardt smashed 49 runs from 13 balls. Thirteen balls.
England can still win this – but they need to do serious damage to the record books. The highest target they’ve chased to win in an ODI is 264 against Australia in 2023; tonight they need 320.
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England need 320 to win
Wow. Outstanding from Wolvaardt, who held together a soggy bread and butter innings from South Africa whilst simultaneously wiping England all over the ground. Exemplary movement through the gears. And just so good to watch.
Pre-match favourites England will need their highest second-innings total to win an ODI if they are going to take this one down. Thank you for your emails and over to Rob to see this one home.
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Updated at 09.06 EDT
50th over: South Africa 319-7 (Tryon 33, de Klerk 11) Bell gets the short straw and the final over. Starts with a pukka slower ball but then de Klerk marmalades her through extra cover for four, and then steps wide to flaps over her shoulder and the ball wins the chase with Ecclestone. A single to finish, 12 from the over and England have a massive chase. This is South Africa’s highest WC scores, and Wolvaardt’s 169 is the highest WC score by a South African.
Nadine de Klerk takes to the air as she hits a shot. Photograph: Anupam Nath/APShare
Updated at 09.06 EDT
49th over: South Africa 307-7 (Tryon 32, de Klerk 1) Tryon puts her foot on the accelerator – Bang, four slog-swept. Bang – four mangoed through the covers. Bang – six to punctuate the over, over the head of Dean at long-on, whose frantic back-pedalling is in vain.
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Updated at 08.58 EDT
WICKET! Wolvaardt c Capsey b Bell 169 (South Africa 291- 7)
With just two overs left, Wolvaardt finally falls – another gorgeous looking drive but this time straight to Capsey at long on. Bell runs to pat her on the back, as do many other England players. Gorgeous, gorgeous innings.
48th over: South Africa 291-7 (Tryon 18) Tryon joins the party, a slower ball smoked for four. The final run collection on her shoulders now.
Laura Wolvaardt gets a pat on the shoulder from Lauren Bell after a fantastic innings. Photograph: Prakash Singh/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 08.58 EDT
150 for Wolvaardt!
47th over: South Africa 284-6 (Wolvaardt 168, Tryon 13) Smith in the firing line. Wolvaardt blazes past 150 with six over long on. Four follows immediately, a legside ball sent on its way. And another, driven just passed the outstretched hand of a sprinting Wyatt-Hodge on the rope. And slam pulled behind square for four more. Runs, percentages. slipping through England’s fingers. Wolvaardt has hit 50 off her last 14 balls.
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Updated at 08.59 EDT
46th over: South Africa 264-6 (Wolvaardt 149, Tryon 12) NSB opts to bowl herself again. But Wolvaardt is ready – a juicy full delivery shazamed through midwicket for four first ball. More shimmied singles then another six, pumped high by Wolvaardt into the legside. Fourteen from the over. Glorious by the captain.
More anthem chat. Hello again John Starbuck: “The need for an England-only anthem comes up every now and then. Many people opt for ‘Greensleeves’ but it sounds a bit too like an ice-cream van, and ‘Jerusalem’ is too hackneyed, so I’d prefer Billy Connolly’s choice: the Archers theme, sung as rumpty-tumpty-tumpty-tum etc”
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Updated at 08.33 EDT
45th over: South Africa 250-6 (Wolvaardt 138, Tryon 9) Wolvaardt is purring now, every whisker at high alert. She baguettes four to the midwicket boundary – the ball flying almost into Dunkley’s hand – a demi-semi chance. Then another, four through the covers with a pop of a cork.
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Updated at 08.31 EDT
44th over: South Africa 238-6 (Wolvaardt 128, Tryon 6) Tryon nearly throws herself on the ground trying to swing at a NSB bouncer but it is called wide. She then almost removes NSB’s head by smashing her down the ground. Wolvaardt goes harder six smashed over long on, then four pulled gloriously square. Fifteen from the over.
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43rd over: South Africa 223-6 (Wolvaardt 115, Tryon 6) South Africa survive Ecclestone’s last over by not doing anything stupid. NSB accedes to Ecclestone’s half-hearted request for an lbw review against Tryon. To no-one’s surprise, it isn’t out, and Ecclestone finishes with a fabulous 4-44.
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42nd over: South Africa 218-6 (Wolvaardt 113, Tryon 3) Ten from Dean’s over – a scattering of singles and six flayed over long on by Wolvaardt.
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41st over: South Africa 208-6 (Wolvaardt 105, Tryon 1) After the wicket, a wide, a single and a swept four as Wolvaardt continues to carry the innings. Will South Africa be able to survive Ecclestone’s last over.
“England and the English need a sporting anthem for ourselves – GSTK is a British or UK anthem. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all have their own anthems. Why don’t we?” Good question Nick Terdre,, though to be fair to the ECB, they have adopted Jerusalem (though England draw from the whole UK) and Jerusalem has been England’s anthem at the Commonweath games for the last 15 years.
”And personally I take no pleasure in a song directed at one man or woman- what about the rest of us?
(PS I’ve a feeling this may be South Africa’s day.)“
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WICKET! Dercksen b Ecclestone 4 (South Africa 202-6)
A collapsed lung of a reverse-sweep as Dercksen directs the ball into her own stumps.
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A hundred for Laura Wolvaardt
40th over: South Africa 202-5 (Wolvaardt 101, Dercksen 4) Brilliant from Wolvaardt – her first World Cup hundred – gets there with a sprinted second. her teammates rise as one in the dugout, She takes off her helmet and gets a huge hug from Dercksen.
“Tanya,” hello Andy Pechey. “At what point does a dropped catch become a great stop?” It’s all in the eye – and generosity – of the observer.
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39th over: South Africa 195-5 (Wolvaardt 97, Dercksen 1) South Africa survive Ecclestone’s eighth over – just two singles from it.
“I think most stadiums in India have a capacity of more than 30000, to accommodate the Men’s game which has a lot of spectators,” writes Arul Kanhere. “Grounds with less seats might not have enough amenities to host a World Cup game. Small mercy its not in Ahmedabad.” Thanks Arul – have you been surprised that the stadiums are not more full for neutral games?
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38th over: South Africa 193-5 (Wolvaardt 96, Dercksen 0) Reward for Bell and a beef-up after that dropped catch. Just one run from it, a wide. She also clonks Dercksen on the helmet, but she’s all smiles as the the physio asks her what day of the week it is.
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WICKET! Jafta b Bell 1 (South Africa 192-5)
Jafta retreats mouseishly, and the ball waves passed the outside edge to clonk middle and off stumps.
Sinalo Jafta’s bails fly! Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/ReutersShare
Updated at 08.30 EDT
37th over: South Africa 192-4 (Wolvaardt 96, Jafta 1) Kapp had just flayed a loose ball from Ecclestone through the covers for four. Crazy shot – if she and Wolvaardt could have just stayed together….
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WICKET! Kapp c Dean b Eccletone (South Africa 191-4)
Kapp goes for the sweep but top edges, Dean holds on with open mouth, hands high and backwards above her head. Ecclestone again with the breakthrough. Kapp curses her way off the pitch.
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36th over: South Africa 187-3 (Wolvaardt 96, Kapp 38) A chance – dropped! Really hard – chipped by Kapp, on 36, and a flying Bell gets a left hand to it but can’t hold on as she falls awkwardly to the ground. Beaumont goes to her straight away to keep spirits up, but actually I think she jarred her body as she fell. The physio provides water and, I think , paracetemol. Dean continues. Five singles from it.
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Updated at 07.49 EDT
35th over: South Africa 182-3 (Wolvaardt 94, Kapp 35) South Africa fancy Capsey. Five singles and a four, swivel-pulled by Wolvaardt as she eases into the nervous nineties.
“This is the partnership, isn’t it Tanya.” It sure is Guy Hornsby. “Wolvaardt has looked in superb nick this tournament (and I’ve a soft spot for her as a former Manchester Original, watching her smoke 4s with my daughter at Old Trafford at her first ever game two years ago). Kapp is arguably their best player, so you feel if this is together at the 40th over England will be back in a pickle. I’m saying this as I’m at work and checking in online, but as we’ve all done over the years, it’s almost more nervy doing that when you’re the equivalent of waiting for Ceefax page 341 to update. Niche reference for all our long-suffering England fans of a certain age.”
Funnily enough my best memory of Ceefax watching is during the India-Australia series of 2001.
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34th over: South Africa 173-3 (Wolvaardt 88, Kapp 32) Kapp, eyes in concentrated slits, drops to one knee and shovels six over long on. Dean pulls it back but still leaks a single from every other ball. Eleven from the over, the partnership 52 from 54 deliveries and they take DRINKS.
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33rd over: South Africa 162-3 (Wolvaardt 86, Kapp 23) Capsey gets her first over of the innings. South Africa are watchful, but tick a single from every ball.
Laura Wolvaardt plays a reverse sweep. Photograph: Anupam Nath/APShare
Updated at 07.44 EDT
32nd over: South Africa 156-3 (Wolvaardt 83, Kapp 20) A moment of excitement as Kapp sweeps and gloves the ball over Jones’s head. Otherwise just two steady singles off Dean.
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31st over: South Africa 153-3 (Wolvaardt 81, Kapp 19) Four singles from Smith’s over. The ground certainly isn’t heaving with spectators, though with a capacity of 46,000 it is hard to gauge exactly how many are in. You do wonder why the BCCI chose such huge stadiums if they weren’t going to be able to sell the tickets to get anywhere near filling them. But everything was very last minute.
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30th over: South Africa 149-3 (Wolvaardt 79, Kapp 17) And now time for Charlie Dean. Wolvaardt eyes up a full toss, shimmies and flays her through those welcoming covers. The next floats legside, Wolvaardt helps it on its way and only a tumbling Beaumont prevents another four.
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29th over: South Africa 141-3 (Wolvaardt 72, Kapp 16) Smith on the money once more, just a single from it.
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Updated at 07.22 EDT
28th over: South Africa 140-3 (Wolvaardt 71, Kapp 16) Not NSB’s best over. Another wide, and two fours for Kapp – an edged four and a stonking cover drive.
At the current run rate, South Africa’s projected score is 250.
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Updated at 07.22 EDT
27th over: South Africa 125-3 (Wolvaardt 70, Kapp 6) More mixing up of the bowlers. NSB reaches for Smith – three singles from it.
Hello Andy Roberts:“In far North Qld reading along to see who Australia will be playing in the final. But saw in the OBO you rated the Australian national anthem and I was shocked. I’m Australian and I can happily admit it is a shocker. If you want a good national anthem, try the Kiwi (NZ) one, it’s brilliant with both the English and Maori verses. It’s a pity their sports teams aren’t more successful so we can hear it more often!”
I do like the Kiwi one, but there is just something about the Australian one which makes me think of sunshine and beaches and … perhaps it is just heading into the British winter.
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26th over: South Africa 125-3 (Wolvaardt 68, Kapp 5) South Africa have slipped from a cruise-control 116-0 to lose three for three. These two batters hold the game in their hands. Kapp, experience seeping out of every pore, coolly drives her first ball, a fat half volley, through the covers for four.
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WICKET! Luus b Sciver-Bunt 1 (South Africa 119-3)
More bails flying. This time Luus pulls with soldier feet and chops on to the stumps. Wolvaardt can only stand and watch.
Nat Sciver-Brunt celebrates with Heather Knight and Amy Jones after taking the wicket of South Africa’s Sune Luus. Photograph: Anushree Fadnavis/ReutersShare
Updated at 07.15 EDT
25th over: South Africa 119-2 (Wolvaardt 67, Luus 1) Ecclestone follows up her two-wicket fifth over with a maiden sixth. At the half way stage, things are up in the air though South Africa will need to get a hurry on.
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24th over: South Africa 119-2 (Wolvaardt 67, Luus 1) Bell again, much neater in her second spell.
Good morning John Starbuck. “As I learned the other day from a repeat of Qi, God Save The King’s tune was originally the anthem of Liechtenstein. A little undignified of the British, I suspect.”
I would love to see a competition for a new one but it would inevitably turn into some culture war nightmare. At least GSTK is a short dirge. With good drums.
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23rd over: South Africa 116-2 (Wolvaardt 64, Luus 0) The Anneka Bosch experiment, brought in for the semi-final, is a fail. Two wickets for Ecclestone, shoulders now liquid, and England are suddenly on top.
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