Two costly, mis-executed reverse sweeps could have derailed South Africa’s innings, but captain Laura Wolvaardt’s 169 steered them to safety and a 125-run semi-final win over England.
The first error came from Tazmin Brits, who “nutmegged herself attempting the reverse sweep” and was bowled by Sophie Ecclestone, ending a 116-run opening stand.
Later, Annerie Dercksen gave Ecclestone her fourth scalp after she “mis-executed the reverse,” playing into the ground before the ball “pinged back off her bat and hit the stumps.”
These “batter errors” left South Africa at 202 for six. However, Wolvaardt, who had built her innings patiently, took charge. She launched a 28-ball, 69-run assault that made the earlier mistakes irrelevant.
Her counter-attack pushed the total to 319 for seven. That score proved more than enough as Marizanne Kapp (five for 20) dismantled England’s top order.
