Women's Cricket World Cup: England's title defence falters after third loss

Shabnim Ismail and Trisha Chetty of South Africa embrace each other after winning the 2022 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup match between South Africa and England. Photo / Getty

England's hopes of defending its title at the Women's Cricket World Cup faltered Monday when they lost by three wickets to South Africa to be left without a win after three matches.

Marizanne Kapp produced an outstanding all-round performance to lead South Africa to their third consecutive win at the tournament. The South Africans are now level with six-time champion Australia on six points at the top of the standings. England has fallen back to seventh in the eight-team competition.

Kapp took 5-45 — her first five-wicket haul in one-day internationals— as South Africa contained England to 235-9 after choosing to bowl. She then made 32 from 42 balls at a vital stage in the chase as South Africa reached its winning target with four deliveries to spare.

"It feels like I've been playing and bowling for ever but it feels great to get five wickets today," Kapp said. "It was a big game and we had to deliver. I'm glad we did. What's been brilliant is we still haven't played our best cricket in terms of our batting."

After three narrow losses, England again was left to look back on several pivotal moments in Monday's match. England's fielding again was poor and it dropped at least three catches from South Africa opener Laura Wolvaardt as she made a decisive 77 from 101 balls.

Its own innings lacked direction. Tammy Beaumont made a gritty 62 from 97 balls at the top of the order but England relied on wicketkeeper Amy Jones, who made 53, to spark the innings with her running between wickets.

England was never on top in the run chase because of Wolvaardt's innings.

When she was gone, Kapp's superb leadership kept South Africa on top. Kapp was out with 10 runs needed from 10 balls and Trisha Chetty and Shabnim Ismail were easily able to see South Africa to victory.

"We're obviously pretty gutted with the situation," England captain Heather Knight said. "It's obviously not through lack of effort. We're in the situation we are and obviously we've got another match fairly quickly so we're going to have to turn things around and believe there's a small chance to make it through."

Earlier, Bangladesh pulled off its first win at a Women's Cricket World Cup when Pakistan lost five wickets for five runs to lose by nine runs in a thrilling run chase.

Sidra Ameen was among those dismissed during the collapse when she was run out for 104 after posting the first century by a Pakistan batter at a World Cup.

Pakistan was 183-2 after 42 overs and seemingly well placed to surpass Bangladesh's total of 234-7 with Ameen in command. But leg-spinner Fahima Khatun sparked the Pakistan collapse with three wickets. Two run-outs added to the chaotic ending to the innings.

Khatun finished with figures of 3-38 from eight overs and was voted player of the match.

"I wasn't nervous because I'm always ready to play for my team," she said. "I just bowled in the right areas, according to my plan and knew success would come.

"It was a very sporty wicket and if bowlers bowled in the right area then they would be successful."

Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof made 31 from 48 balls to boost her team. But after her dismissal the Pakistan innings began to unravel because of poor shot selection against accurate spin bowling.

"It's a hard loss to digest," Maroof said. "Sidra (Ameen) will be disappointed. She was playing really well and will be disappointed she didn't finish the game.

"We were in the game, we should have chased it down but the poor shot selection cost us."

Bangladesh now has one win from three starts in New Zealand while Pakistan has no wins from four matches.

"I can't describe this in words because this is our first-ever win in a World Cup and this is history we've made today," Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana said. "Now we're looking to carry this win through the tournament."