Nat Sciver-Brunt and Danni Wyatt-Hodge lead England to a seven-wicket win, placing them at the top of Group B after a strong performance against South Africa.

England made it two wins from two in the Women’s T20 World Cup, defeating South Africa by seven wickets in Sharjah on Monday. Their well-rounded performance, led by key contributions from spinners and a composed partnership between Nat Sciver-Brunt and Danni Wyatt-Hodge, keeps them top of Group B and firmly in the race for the semi-finals.

South Africa, who had previously defeated England in the 2023 T20 World Cup semi-finals, struggled to capitalise on their strong start. England’s spinners, led by Sophie Ecclestone’s economical spell of 2-15, restricted South Africa to 124-6 from their 20 overs. Ecclestone was ably supported by Sarah Glenn, who conceded just 18 runs in her four overs, further tightening the screws on the Proteas.

Despite England’s misfortune in the field, dropping four catches, they managed to keep South Africa’s score in check. Laura Wolvaardt (42 off 39) anchored the innings for South Africa with a composed knock, while Marizanne Kapp added a rapid 26 from just 17 balls to give her side a fighting chance. However, their total of 124 feet below par on a pitch where spin was increasingly influential.

When England came out to chase, they found themselves in a cautious position early on. Maia Bouchier (8 off 20) struggled to get going, and despite a brief flurry from Alice Capsey (19 off 16), the pressure mounted with the score at 50-2. It was here that Sciver-Brunt and Wyatt-Hodge took control of the situation.

The pair put on a crucial 64-run stand for the third wicket, with Wyatt-Hodge anchoring the chase with 43 from 43 balls, while Sciver-Brunt’s unbeaten 48 from 36 proved to be the match-winning contribution. Sciver-Brunt struck the winning boundary with just four balls to spare, sealing a composed chase that saw England reach 125-3 from 19.2 overs.

Speaking after the match, Sciver-Brunt credited the spinners for setting up the platform. “Sophie and Sarah were outstanding today. It wasn’t easy out there with the heat and the conditions, but they stuck to the game plan and made it easier for us batters,” she said.

Ecclestone’s left-arm spin continues to be a major weapon for England in this tournament. Her control and ability to pick up key wickets at crucial moments have allowed England to dictate the tempo of matches, and Monday’s game was no different.

For South Africa, the loss puts them third in Group B, behind West Indies on net run rate, though they remain in a strong position to reach the semi-finals with upcoming matches against Scotland and Bangladesh. Having opened their tournament with a dominant 10-wicket victory over West Indies, South Africa will look to bounce back quickly.

England’s captain, Heather Knight, praised her team’s resilience. “It was tough, and we made it a little difficult for ourselves by dropping those catches, but the way the girls fought back was brilliant. We know we can improve, but winning while not playing our best is always a positive sign,” she said.

With two wins already under their belt, England now sit comfortably at the top of Group B. They next face Scotland on Sunday, followed by a clash with the West Indies next Tuesday, and both matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. England, which hasn’t won a T20 World Cup title since 2009, is determined to end that drought this year, and their performances so far indicate they have the firepower to do so.

South Africa, despite the defeat, remains optimistic about their chances of progressing. “It wasn’t our day, but we’ve got two important games coming up, and we’re confident we can get back on track,” said Kapp, who contributed with both bat and ball for her team.

For now, England’s victory keeps their momentum going, and with more challenges ahead, they will look to continue their unbeaten run and secure their place in the knockout stages.