Danni Wyatt, Sophia Dunkley and Sophie Ecclestone were the stars of the show for England as they romped towards the final of the Women's Cricket World Cup with a 137-run win over South Africa.
Despite starting the tournament with three consecutive defeats and appearing to be on the brink of elimination, England secured a spot in the semi-finals with four wins in four before producing their most complete performance yet as they reached the final. After losing three early wickets, Wyatt powered a masterful 129 off just 125 balls to help them post a formidable total of 293.
Wyatt began the tournament batting down at number six, with Lauren Winfield-Hill preferred as Tammy Beaumont's opening partner. However, with Winfield-Hill continuing her struggles from the Women's Ashes, Wyatt was promoted up the order after the first two games.
And that decision was fully vindicated in the semi-final, as she made her first ODI hundred for England since December 2019 and her first ever at a World Cup. She was ably supported by Amy Jones at first, who added 28, and then Dunkley, who has enjoyed an excellent World Cup debut.
Together, Wyatt and Dunkley shared a 116-run partnership that saw England dominate the middle overs. When Wyatt eventually fell in the 45th over, England were up to 242 and able to push on in the final overs and add a further 51 runs.
Dunkley went on to reach her second half-century of the tournament, before getting out for 60, while Ecclestone produced a brilliant cameo of 24 off just 11 balls. In response, South Africa got off to a horror start when both of their openers fell early to leave them 8-2.
Laura Wolvaardt, the tournament's leading run scorer, was out for a duck before the dangerous Lizelle Lee was caught at midwicket for just two. Both wickets were claimed by Anya Shrubsole, who bowled a brilliant opening spell in tandem with Katherine Brunt.
Lara Goodall and captain Sune Luus attempted to mount a rebuild, but the imposing England total meant the run-rate kept rising and the scoreboard pressure tolled on South Africa. Kate Cross deceived Luus with a cutter and bowled her for 21, while Charlie Dean bowled Goodall for 29.
That left South Africa 86-4 when England introduced Ecclestone, the world's number one ranked bowler in both ODI and T20 cricket, and she took her maiden international five-wicket haul. Ecclestone picked up 6-36 as South Africa were bowled out for just 156, losing the semi-final by a whopping 137 runs.
England's victory sets up a clash with rivals Australia in the final and it will require a remarkable effort for Heather Knight's side to win that match and retain the World Cup. Australia are one of the most dominant sides sport has ever seen, having only lost one competitive ODI since October 2017.
