Dominant win sends England into T20 World Cup final

England are one step away from glory at another home World Cup as they eased into the final of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 with a 40-run victory over South Africa at The Oval on Thursday.

Returning from a calf injury, Nat Sciver-Brunt proved pivotal in the semi-finals as she helped her team rally from a shaky start and post 169/5. Despite a defiant fifty by Tazmin Brits, South Africa crumbled to 129/8 in their 20 overs.

Sunday's final at the Lord's Cricket Ground pits the two unbeaten teams of the tournament, England and Australia.

England will also be looking to maintain their perfect record at home - they have never lost a women's World Cup, T20 or ODI, as hosts.

After South Africa elected to field first, Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail gave their team a fiery start.

Kapp got the new ball to swing and castled Danni Wyatt-Hodge, the leading run scorer in the tournament, with one that nipped in.

It was Ismail who had delivered the first blow, claiming the wicket of Amy Jones with her first ball and trapped Alice Capsey leg before wicket to reduce England to 23/3. Ismail also became the first bowler to cross a milestone 50 wickets at the tournament.

In the hunt for another key wicket, South Africa bowled out Kapp early and the pacer finished with outstanding figures of 1/16 in four overs.

Having survived the early burst of pace, Sciver-Brunt and Heather Knight led the England fightback with a 133-run stand for the third wickets, which is the highest partnership in knockouts in the tournament.

Sciver-Brunt showed no signs of the calf injury that had kept her out the last three matches as she dazzled with her footwork and ran hard between the wickets.

The English captain struck 11 fours and a six, en route her eighth half-century in Women's T20 World Cup. It drew her level with the game's greats Suzie Bates (New Zealand) and Beth Mooney (Australia).

At the other end, Knight also kept the runs ticking. She brought up her fifty with a heave over deep mid-wicket for six.

When it looked like England were about to switch gears, Nonkululeko Mlaba landed decisive blows in the 19th over. She had the England captain caught in the deep while trying to sweep, bringing an end to the partnership. Two balls later, Knight lofted the ball straight to Laura Wolvaardt at extra-cover.

Though England didn't quite get the acceleration at the death, they finished at a challenging 169/5.

In response, South Africa made a watchful start as Wolvaardt and Brits put on an opening partnership of 43 runs.

The South African captain's promising stay at the wicket was cut short as Sophie Ecclestone grabbed a leaping catch near mid-on off Linsey Smith. That was just the opening England needed to lay siege.

Even as South Africa kept losing wickets at regular intervals, Brits waged a lone battle. Though not as explosive as she can be, Brits struck six boundaries, the last of which took her to a half-century.

However, she was dismissed on the very next ball, as she got a leading edge off Charlie Dean that flew to Sciver-Brunt. Once Brits departed, the South African challenge fell apart.

It was another impressive display with the ball and in the field, by England. Lauren Bell and Dean were the most effective bowlers on the day and claimed two wickets each but Smith, Freya Kemp and Eccelestone also chipped in with a wicket each.

Sciver-Brunt also left a mark as a captain with clever bowling changes and field placements.

Proteas’ ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Squad

Laura Wolvaardt (captain, Fidelity Titans), Tazmin Brits (DP World Lions), Nadine de Klerk (World Sports Betting Western Province), Annerie Dercksen (Garden Route Badgers), Shabnim Ismail (DP World Lions), Sinalo Jafta (DP World Lions), Marizanne Kapp (World Sports Betting Western Province), Ayabonga Khaka (DP World Lions), Suné Luus (Fidelity Titans), Karabo Meso (DP World Lions), Nonkululeko Mlaba (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Kayla Reyneke (World Sports Betting Western Province), Tumi Sekhukhune (DP World Lions), Chloé Tryon (DP World Lions) and Dané van Niekerk (World Sports Betting Western Province).

Proteas Fixtures and Results - ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 (All times SAST)

Saturday, 13 June at 3.30pm - Old Trafford, Manchester

South Africa v Australia (Aus won by 65 runs)

Wednesday, 17 June at 7.30pm - Edgbaston, Birmingham

South Africa v Pakistan (SA won by two wickets)

Sunday, 21 June at 3.30pm - Old Trafford, Manchester

South Africa v India (SA won by six wickets)

Thursday, 25 June at 7.30pm - Bristol County Ground, Bristol

South Africa v Netherlands (SA won by 88 runs)

Sunday, 28 June at 11.30am - Lord’s, London

South Africa v Bangladesh (SA won by four wickets)

Semi-final

Thursday, 2 July at 7.30pm - The Oval, London

South Africa v England (Eng won by 40 runs)