England’s women, having trounced South Africa through bilateral matches this summer, delivered them one last defeat that all but qualified them for a Commonwealth Games semi-final in T20 cricket. The eenage sensation Alice Capsey was again the key for England’s batting, with an even 50 out of 167 for five. South Africa never looked like meeting that pace in the chase, finishing on 141 for four.
With England’s regular captain, Heather Knight, still on crutches with a hip injury, Capsey has made the most of her absence. Her innings of 44 on Commonwealth Games debut steadied a wobbling run chase against Sri Lanka last Sunday, then she backed it up with her first half-century for England in this match. Capsey is still nine days short of her 18th birthday but is aiming to start the party early after the gold medal match this Sunday night.
