Right, that’s all from me. The England juggernaut moves on. They play their semi final on Friday, by which time they will know their potential opponent in the final – the winner of Australia v India on Feburary 23. Danni Wyatt is back in the zone, Katherine Sciver-Brunt has refound her mo-jo, Nat Sciver-Brunt is flying.
But perhaps the last word should go to Nasser Hussain, who speaks words of warning, and wisdom. The big three – India, Australia and England – are dominating women’s cricket much as they are dominating the men’s game. “This is a World Cup,” he says. “We’ve got to make sure the haves and the have-nots can play together.”
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A hugely impressive win for England, who move smoothly into the semi-finals either against South Africa or New Zealand [to be decided in the South Africa v Bangladesh game which starts in half an hour). The emphatic win leaves India to take on Australia in the other semi-final.
England (213-5) bt Pakistan (99-9) - huge win for England to top the group and send a message to Australia. pic.twitter.com/IbfHCiMoRY
— CRICKETher 🏏 (@crickether) February 21, 2023
Captain chat:
Nida Dar: “It was not the result we wanted. We know we are lacking strength in our batting line up and we have to learn from these type of matches and we’ve taken some positive from the matches. Wev’e played two very good matches…I think time for the new girls to come forward and take the challenge and move forward.”
Heather Knight: “We talked about trying to take some momentum into the semis .. really top day. Really pleased with Danni, the way she’d been batting in the nets wasn’t too far away from a score like that. She was really disappointed when she got out which is nice to see as a captain. Bit more pace and carry than we’re used to [at Newlands], Kathering used that brilliantly, bit of turn for the leg spinners too, good to get used to it.”
Nat Sciver-Brunt is the player of the match!
The most expensive overseas player in the WPL proves her worth with a stunning innings and a wicket too:
“Their spinners bowled a little slower than ours. We thought the wicket was pretty good. The start from Wyatt was so important, Sophia and Alice have been batting so well so far, and it’s so crucial. We’d been building well into this tournament, we hadn’t been bowling that well. This was a really good performance.”
England beat Pakistan by 114 runs
20th over: Pakistan 99-9 (Fatima 16) Four byes slip past Amy Jones as both she and Fatima let the ball pass them by. Pakistan knock Ecclestone for three singles before the last wicket. Happy England, glum Pakistan, but handshakes all round.
WICKET! Nashra Sandhu st Jones b Ecclestone 1 (Pakistan 99-9)
A wicket from the final ball in what is the biggest win in a women’s T20 World Cup – by a whopping 114 runs. Sandhu misses Ecclestone’s final ball and Jones makes no mistake with the gloves.
19th over: Pakistan 97-8 (Fatima 14) Freya Davies bowls the penultimate over and send downs a slow full toss which Tuba slaps to the rope. Emboldened, she then shovels the ball high and into the hands of KSB who catches the ball over over the boundary. Alas, the scrambled egg run out follows.
WICKET! Tuba run out (Capsey-Davies) 28 (Pakistan 91-8)
A horlicks of a run-out spoils Tuba’s cameo after she jogs a run half-heartedly thinking the ball has crossed the rope, ambles back and even as she sees the ball being returned moves in slow motion and is out by a stride
Alice Capsey making a stop using exactly the same technique which saw her shatter her collar bone 3 months ago. Ah - the fearlessness of youth!!
— CRICKETher 🏏 (@crickether) February 21, 2023
18th over: Pakistan 80-7 (Fatima 13, Tuba 17) A one-handed slap by Fatima off collar-bone high full toss from Ecclestone, and a no-ball is called. The shadows sweep around the boundary edges. Two overs left, 134 needed.
17th over: Pakistan 77-7 (Fatima 12, Tuba 16) Davies, jaunty pony tail, bounces in. Nearly another run-out as Tuba goes for a quick single before changing her mind. Wyatt’s somewhat lugubrious throw doesn’t beat the diving batter – though the third umpire takes their time on the decision.
15th over: Pakistan 74-7 (Fatima 10, Tuba 15) Tuba tucks into a full toss from Dean and shimmies it through the covers for four. Fatima loses her feet to manoeuvre the ball round the field and Tuba’s dab over mi-off brings two more past Ecclestone running in slow-mo. A double figure over for Pakistan!
15th over: Pakistan 64-7 (Fatima 9, Tuba 6) A mixture of flight and flat-ones by Glenn, as Knight encourages her charges to stay on the job.
14th over: Pakistan 62-7 (Fatima 8, Tuba 5) Charlie Dean approaches with her rapid run out. Pakistan pick her off for six relatively easy runs. The camera pans to Nida Dar, sitting alone on the concrete step outside the dressing room, hand on chin.
13th over: Pakistan 56-7 (Fatima 7, Tuba 1 ) On the grassy banks of Newlands, the fans loll back and applaud Pakistan’s fifty. Twenty-one year old Fatima off-drives KSB beautifully for four before losing her partner in a fuzzy run-out.
WICKET! Sidra run out (Nat Sciver-Brunt) 12 (Pakistan 54-7)
Mishap follows mix-up as Sidra Amin tries to scurry a run from the non-striker’s end, rapdily rethinks – but too slowly – and NSB throws down the stumps.
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12th over: Pakistan 49-6 (Fatima 2,Sidra 1 ) Ecclestone not the light relief Pakistan were hoping for – they manage a single.
England (213-5) v Pakistan (48-6) - Feels mean to Pakistan even posting this... pic.twitter.com/cjRcKTaIcs
— CRICKETher 🏏 (@crickether) February 21, 2023
11th over: Pakistan 48-6 (Fatima 2,Sidra 1 ) Heather Knight ringing the changes, beckons KSB back on. She drops a couple of wides into the mix before sending Aliya on her way. Not long for this tournament, a brow-beaten Pakistan.
WICKET! Aliya c Knight b KSB 5 (Pakistan 47-6)
Aliya launches into an off cutter, tips it into the heavens and Knight grabs on with both hands at cover. Happy captain, happy team.
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10th over: Pakistan 44-4 (Aliya 5, Fatima 1) Nine from the wicket-taking over, after Aliya Riaz gets a lucky thick edge down which rattles along to the boundary.
WICKET! Sidra Ameen c KSB b Dean 12 (Pakistan 39-5)
Pakistan crumbling in the face of England’s huge total. Sidra Ameen plays an ugly spatular shot to Katherine Sciver-Brunt who collects at long on. And we take DRINKS!
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9th over: Pakistan 35-4 ( Sidra Ameen 8, Aliya 1) And England will avoid Australia in the semi-final! A match against the hosts or New Zealand – depending on the result of the match later today – awaits. Huge applause from the knowledgeable England fans.
WICKET! Dar st Jones b Glenn 11 (Pakistan 33-4)
The stand-in captain’s miserable match gets worse when she skips down the wicket, tries to smack Glenn into the shady sheets and is neatly stumped.
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8th over: Pakistan 31-3 (Nida Dar 10, Sidra Ameen 6) Ecclestone in her raspberry boots, takes the first over at the end of the power play. Pakistan aren’t fazed though, picking off runs – including a reverse sweep for two.
7th over: Pakistan 27-3 (Nida Dar 9 , Sidra Ameen 3) No rest for Pakistan as Sarah Glenn takes her first over. The flags are limp – and the smoke from the braais rises vertically. Three singles and three dots – with Pakistan needing over 14 an over for a miracle.
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6th over: Pakistan 20-3 (Nida Dar 8, Sidra Ameen 1) A quiet over for Pakistan until Dar helps Davies over fine leg for four.
5th over: Pakistan 19-3 (Nida Dar 4, Sidra Ameen 0) A timely/consolation boundary for Pakistan as Nida Dar dabs to the fine leg rope.
WICKET! Omaima Sohail c Davies b N Sciver-Brunt 9 (Pakistan 15-3)
Ooof, there goes another as Omaima eyes up the rope but can only screech it to Davies at fine leg who runs and gathers. Not a bad afternoon’s work for NSB.
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4th over: Pakistan 15-21 (Omaima 9) Charlie Dean gets the nod for the third over of the day – starts with a wide and finishes with a wicket.
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WICKET! Muneeba c Jones b Dean 3 (Pakistan 15-2)
The century maker against Pakistan has to plod off, bat up by her ears, sweeping one that wasn’t for sweeping and top edging high and into the gloves of the strolling Amy Jones.
3rd over: Pakistan 11-1 (Omaima 7, Muneeba 2) On the money today, KSB, zoning in at the stumps, the sun high over Table Mountain. Just a single from the over.
And, in pleasing news for England fans, Pakistan would have to chase England’s total down in nine overs for England to have to face Australia in the semi-finals.
2nd over: Pakistan 10-1 (Omaima 6, Muneeba 2) Davies’ first two balls are a wide and a no-ball with her foot too wide on the return crease. A beautiful cover drive from Omaima races to the rope.
England (213-5) v Pakistan - big finish from England, as Pakistan slightly went to pieces in the field. pic.twitter.com/pxTdJjfu12
— CRICKETher 🏏 (@crickether) February 21, 2023
1st over: Pakistan 2-1 (Omaima 1, Muneeba 1) Katherine Sciver-Brunt puts the nightmare of the last game to rest with a wicket with her second ball.
WICKET! Sadaf Shamas c Jones b K Sciver-Brunt 0 (Pakistan 0-1)
Not the ideal start for Pakistan, as Sadaf Shamas goes neither soft nor hard, but leaden-footed, and top edges to the keeper.
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Pakistan to chase 214 to win
I take that back, no time for tea, just toast and peanut butter. Anyway, here we are, Katherine Sciver-Brunt with the ball and Pakistan ready to start their record-breaking chase…
20th over: England 213-5 (N Sciver-Brunt 81) Wow! The highest score ever in a women’s T20 World Cup. Pakistan had no answer to the power hitting and precision of England, of Wyatt and NSB in particular. A couple of boundaries from Fatima’s final over – bringing up the hundred partnership between Jones and Nat Sciver-Brunt in just 46 balls. Mumbai Indians will be delighted with their costly purchase.
Time for a quick cup of tea before we restart with Pakistan chasing 214.
WICKET! Jones c Tuba b Fatima (England 213-5)
Slams the last ball of the innings – a slower one – into the stratosphere and down into the hands of deep midwicket – who drops it on the first take but saves her blushes with a timely grab with her right hand.
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19th over: England 202-4 (N Sciver-Brunt 76, Jones 41) Amy Jones slams Nashra Sandu for six over square leg as England pass two hundred – the first time a team has passed 200 in a Women’s T20 World Cup. A possible stumping of Jones from the last ball – which the replay actually shows was out.
“What with ‘pancaking’ a shot or passing a ‘pudding basin’ fielder, we can guess what impact Shrove Tuesday is having on your screed,” writes John Starbuck. “As the designated cook for today’s dessert in our household I can sympathise, but really it should just look after itself if you keep it simple.”
I wish I had your confidence…
“Incidentally, I see the earlier reference to your email address still includes ‘guardian.co.uk‘, but in my address box it shows up as ‘theguardian.com‘. Perhaps there’s a glitch in your system?”
Ah – yes, the guardian.com, my mistake.
18th over: England 192-4 (N Sciver-Brunt 75, Jones 32) Sadia can’t stop the run leaks.. Three for Amy Jones, then NSB drops to the off side and sweeps four. And another sweep and another boundary. A single brings Jones to the strike and she pulls four again legside, before picking up three past backward point. And Pakistan’s fielders kindly contribute by diving over the ball and slipping on banana skins.
17th over: England 173-4 (N Sciver-Brunt 66, Jones 22) Nida Dar rolls up for her last over and in an attempt to contain NSB. It doesn’t work, as she sweep her first ball for four. Then Jones joins in, reverse-sweeping to the rope before powering another. Runs on runs – and NSB now has the largest collection in this World Cup with 161 and counting.
Fifty for Nat Sciver-Brunt!
16th over: England 159-4 (N Sciver-Brunt 61, Jones 13) Nat Sciver-Brunt effortless out there, reaching fifty down on one knee, and following that boundary with two more – a pull and a meaty drive over cover for six.
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15th over: England 143-4 (N Sciver-Brunt 46, Jones 11) Events! Pakistan’s bowlers are not being helped by their fielders out there today – Nat Sciver Brunt turns the ball to short fine leg where the fielder kneels performatively but somehow misses the ball. Jones gets hit in the guts by a full toss from Fatima which cuts her in half and is called no ball. Then – and this is so unlucky for Pakistan, the keeper whips off her gloves to take a return – and the ball hits the grounded glove. Finally, another waist-high full toss – and chat about whether Fatima should be removed from the attack. Answer: no.
14th over: England 125-4 (N Sciver-Brunt 41, Jones 6) A fumble on the boundary by Dar, brings Jones her first boundary.
13th over: England 119-4 (N Sciver-Brunt 40, Jones 1) Dar becomes the leading wicket-taker in T20s with the wicket of Knight, and nearly sweeps up a second when Jones top-edges first ball, just past a pudding basin fine leg who doesn’t pick up the ball in time. Unpeturbed, Nat SB, shovels square for four.
WICKET! Knight c Nashra b Dar 3 (England 113-4)
A slog-sweep, but there isn’t enough power on it to reach the long boundaries at Newlands. Nicely taken by Nashra who is mindful of her feet placings.
12th over: England 111-3 (N Sciver-Brunt 34, Knight 3) Just six off the over and a vital wicket for Pakistan as Wyatt and N Sciver-Brunt needed little oil to grease their gears in a threatening partnership.
WICKET! Wyatt c S Amin b Tuba 59 (England 107-3)
Dances down the pitch, lofts the ball to long off where a be-sunglassed Amin takes the ball at chest height, peddling backwards. She’s frustrated with herself but it has been a cracking knock and hopefull bedded a few daemons.
Fifty for Danni Wyatt!
11th over: England 105-2 (N Sciver-Brunt 34, Wyatt 57) Newlands looking a picture – a scattered crowd making a good noise, with more expected later when South Africa take on Bangladesh. Those beautiful trees – that beautiful mountain… anyway, the cricket – wham bam 16 off Nashra’s over. Wyatt reaches fifty with a sweep and celebrates next ball by pancaking a full toss over square leg. It’s her first fifty in a T20 World Cup.
10th over: England 89-2 (N Sciver-Brunt 31, Wyatt 44) The fifty partnership comes up with a beauty from Nat Sciver-Brunt, who skips, angles and thuds Tuba Hassan through the covers for four. She and Wyatt continue to gobble up singles, taking risks but falling safe.
John Starbuck, hello!
“Not that I wish the Kiwis any ill-will but it would be better for the tournament if South Africa feature in the semi-final. A more engaged crowd always provides improved excitement.”
Always hoping for home side involvement for a long as possible in a tournament.
9th over: England 80-2 (N Sciver-Brunt 23, Wyatt 43) Nashra with her slinging left arm restores some sanity. On comms they were commenting on Wyatt having a point to prove. A week ago, here was her heartbroken reaction to not being picked up in the IPL.
Dreamt of playing in the WPL. Heartbroken 💔 Congrats to all who got picked up. India is a wonderful place to play cricket
— Danielle Wyatt (@Danni_Wyatt) February 14, 2023
8th over: England 75-2 (N Sciver-Brunt 20, Wyatt 41) Awww that’s gorgeous, Sciver Brunt drives through the covers and finishes on one leg just to prove her perfect balance. If I had to place her, I’d plonk her exactly in the zone. And there goes Wyatt on the sweep, stretching forward to make the most of her little frame, and picking up another four. Pakistan struggling to contain these two.
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7th over: England 63-2 (N Sciver-Brunt 13, Wyatt 36) Thanks very much says N Sciver-Brunt to Nashra Sandhu, stepping past off-stump, kneeling deep to sweep, and powering the ball to the rope. A handful of singles and another hearty over for England.
6th over: England 55-2 (N Sciver-Brunt 7, Wyatt 34) Full length outside off and Danni Wyatt launches into the stand-in Pakistan captain with a flourishing lofted drive. A boundary for Sciver-Brunt too, 13 from Dar’s first over and a hearty total, with extra roast potatoes, at the end of the power play.
5th over: England 42-2 (N Sciver-Brunt 1, Wyatt 27) Wyatt holding the innings together, with two banging fours from Sadia’s last two balls after another wicket in the power play for Pakistan.
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WICKET! Capsey b Sadia Iqbal 6 (England 33-2)
Capsey plumps for a sweep but misses – and looks as fed up as her now disjointed off stump.
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4th over: England 33-1 (Capsey 6, Wyatt 19) Fatima, black headband slipping down her forehead, skids into Wyatt who is squinting under the brim of her helmet. She steers the ball behind her boots and down to backward point for four – very nicely done. That’s 12 off the over after a thudding four from Capsey.
3rd over: England 21-1 (Capsey 1, Wyatt 12) The tall Sadia troubles Capsey, who nearly gets a leading edge and then lobs just short of long on. A quick single to switch the strike – but just three from it.
@tjaldred It is good to have a settled team but Katherine Sciver-Brunt has shown absolutely no form in this tournament. What does Kate Cross need to do to get a game? With our place in the semi finals set today was surely the day
— DUNCAN MCMINN (@deejaymac1970) February 21, 2023
You aren’t the only one to be asking this question Duncan Mcminn. Lauren Bell has officially been rested – perhaps for the semi – and I assume Knight just believes in and wants Brunt’s experience – she’s pulled England out of so many holes in the past.
2nd over: England 18-1 (Capsey 0, Wyatt 10) Fatima opens with a boomeranging ball that flies past the diving keeper and down to the rope. A no ball follows – and a free hit which reaches mid-off for no run. Dar doesn’t look that impressed but is soon smiling when Dunkley dobs straight to the fielder.
WICKET! Dunkley c Nashra b Fatima 2 (England 18-1)
Dunkley leans back, looks unbalanced, and thuds the ball straight to mid on. After a troubled over, Fatima leaps in delight.
1st over: England 10-0 (Dunkley 0, Wyatt 10) After a wait for the clock to tick round, Sadia Iqbal opens the bowling with her gentle looking left arm spin. Wyatt watches the first three obediently before driving the fourth through point for four and lumping the fifth for six.
Our Raf is perturbed:
England have decided to give Freya Davies a game - yay! - but I would LOVE to hear the justification for omitting Lauren Bell instead of Katherine Sciver-Brunt after that India game.
— Raf Nicholson (@RafNicholson) February 21, 2023
Utterly baffling decision by Jon Lewis. #T20WorldCup
Do send me your thoughts, idle or otherwise, either via twitter: @tjaldred or email me on tanya.aldred.freelance@guardian.co.uk.
The teams march out, under perfect bluebell skies, holding hands with the mascots. Now for the anthems: Pakistan sing along with hands on their hearts and suncream on their faces. England, arms over each others shoulders, sunglasses free, belt along to an operatic version of God Save the King.
All roads lead to Australia, but the aim is to put that off as long as possible. If England beat Pakistan, they will avoid the Aussies in the semis and play either South Africa or New Zealand depending on if South Africa beat Bangladesh later.
Pakistan XI
Sadaf Shamas, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Omaima Sohail, Nida Dar (c), Aliya Riaz, Sidra Amin, Fatima Sana Khan, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Nashra Sandhu, Tuba Hassan, Sadia Iqbal.
England XI
Danni Wyatt, Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Heather Knight (c), Amy Jones (wk), Katherine Sciver-Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, Charlie Dean, Freya Davies.
Nida Dar, in her first outing as Pakistan captain, and with an impressively elaborate sweeping hairstyle, speaks to Nasser Hussain. Two changes for Pakistan: Bismah Mahroof and Aamin Anwer miss out replaced by Sadaf Shamas and Sidra Nawaz.
England win the toss and will bat!
Knight calls heads and chooses to bat on a lovely looking pitch. There is one change from the last game – but it isn’t Brunt who sits out but Lauren Bell. Davies replaces her.
News from the ground is that Freya Davies is warming up – perhaps no room for Brunt today after that tricky time in the last game.
All change at the top for Pakistan, after captain Bismah Mahroof sits out after picking up a strain during the game against West Indies last week. Nida Dar wears the captain’s armband today.
Preamble
Good morning! Here we are already at match 19 in a competition that is speeding on into the knock-out stages, as England take on Pakistan.
Favourites Australia have already topped Group A, winning all of their games. Hot on their tails England qualified for the semi-finals when Pakistan lost to West Indies, with India claiming second spot in the group after beating Ireland. England will finish top of Group B unless they are thrashed by Pakistan today at a cloudless Newlands – unlikely, as England have won 13 of the last 14 ODIs between the two sides.
England’s nine-match winning streak – topped off by an 11-run victory over India last Saturday - has been done with much elbow grease from Sophie Ecclestone and Sarah Glenn in particular ,and a decent hand from the batters. Pakistan are looking for a second consolation victory before they head home.
The action starts at 1pm GMT.
Absolutely gorgeous day at Newlands for England v Pakistan ☀️ 🏏 💛 #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/9irSbgUTFo
— Raf Nicholson (@RafNicholson) February 21, 2023
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