Summary

  • England reach World Cup final - will play Australia on Sunday in Christchurch (02:00 BST)

  • Ecclestone (6-36) takes first international five-wicket haul

  • Shrubsole takes two wickets with new ball

  • England post 293-8 after being asked to bat first

  • Wyatt - dropped five times - makes 129 off 125 balls

  • Opener shares stand of 116 with Dunkley (60) for fifth wicket

  1. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 07:58 British Summer Time 31 March 2022

    #bbccricket

    Roberto: Is this the same misfiring England team from the first three matches? Great bowling - Ecclestone and Dean unplayable, sharp fielding, catches being taken, batters in form. The final with Australia will be a ripper!

  2. Postpublished at 07:58 British Summer Time 31 March 2022

    Alex Hartley
    England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    It was just a matter of time. Du Preez had got away with sweeping Ecclestone a few times but she's been outfoxed.

    Proving exactly why she's the world's best.

  3. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 30 overs

    Du Preez b Ecclestone 30 (SA 110-7)

    The end is nigh for South Africa - Sophie Ecclestone has her third!

    Mignon du Preez went across her stumps and tried to paddle sweep but the England spinner fired it in straight and found her target.

  4. Postpublished at 07:54 British Summer Time 31 March 2022

    Alex Hartley
    England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    Just hit out or get out. There's no point just batting the 50 overs.

  5. Postpublished at 07:54 British Summer Time 31 March 2022

    Stephan Shemilt
    BBC Sport's chief cricket writer

    The game isn't over, but the contest will be soon.

  6. SA 104-6published at 29 overs

    Du Preez 25, Chetty 0

    Mignon du Preez gets the ball through backward point for two before a paddle sweep adds a single. South Africa are pretty much going through the motions now. The game is up, it is pretty much just a matter of deciding whether to drag things out or go down in a blaze of glory.

  7. Postpublished at 07:52 British Summer Time 31 March 2022

    Alex Hartley
    England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    We thought this game would be a nail-biter, especially compared to Australia's thumping of West Indies yesterday.

    Well, it looks like England are about to win in the same way.

  8. SA 101-6published at 28 overs

    Target 294

    As if South Africa weren't already up against it enough, Ecclestone greets Chetty with a delivery that leaps up from a length. Much more of that and this could be over very, very quickly.

  9. Postpublished at 07:49 British Summer Time 31 March 2022

    Henry Moeran
    BBC Test Match Special

    South Africa are crumbling.

  10. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 07:48 British Summer Time 31 March 2022

    Tryon c Sciver b Ecclestone 3 (SA 101-6)

    Ecclestone and England are laughing again! The very next ball and Chloe Tryon chips the ball towards mid-wicket where Nat Sciver moves to her left and takes the catch.

    England are getting ever closer to another World Cup final.

  11. Not outpublished at 07:48 British Summer Time 31 March 2022

    SA 101-5

    Yes, yes there was bat involved. In fact, it was the only thing involved - right into the middle of the bat with no pad involved. Ecclestone can only laugh.

  12. Postpublished at 07:48 British Summer Time 31 March 2022

    Alex Hartley
    England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    Any bat involved? Yes... she's nailed it!

  13. England reviewpublished at 07:47 British Summer Time 31 March 2022

    SA 101-5

    Heather Knight is persuaded to go for the review after Ecclestone hits Tryon on the pad. Was there bat involved though?

  14. Postpublished at 07:46 British Summer Time 31 March 2022

    South Africa really do look down and out...

    Worm
  15. Postpublished at 07:46 British Summer Time 31 March 2022

    Here is Kate Cross doing that important work. The England seamer bowled Sune Luus with a jaffa earlier in the innings...

  16. Postpublished at 07:45 British Summer Time 31 March 2022

    Henry Moeran
    BBC Test Match Special

    She does have quite important work to do, Alex...

  17. Postpublished at 07:44 British Summer Time 31 March 2022

    Alex Hartley
    England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    Kate Cross is below us and I'm trying to get her to wave to the cameras but she won't. She's now turning away from us.

  18. SA 99-5published at 27 overs

    Target 294

    Charlie Dean races through another over, just two from it, as England's spinners really start to put the squeeze on South Africa.

  19. Postpublished at 07:43 British Summer Time 31 March 2022

    Alex Hartley
    England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    England have had a whirlwind of a tournament - losing their first three games and now they're closing in on the final.

  20. SA 97-5published at 26 overs

    Sophie Ecclestone is now the leading wicket-taker in the tournament. She is a world-class performer at the top of her game. Just the fact that she has another eight overs to bowl means South Africa's chances go from slim to practically zero.