Postpublished at 06:13 British Summer Time 31 March 2022
Alex Hartley
England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
That was so close to hitting the top of off stump! It has taken a bit off the surface and is about a centimetre away from the off bail.
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
Postpublished at 06:13 British Summer Time 31 March 2022
SA 5-1published at 3 overs
Target 294
Oh how has that missed?! Lizelle Lee leaves one off Brunt that must be millimetres away from the off stump.
A maiden over is not what South Africa need.
SA 5-1published at 2 overs
The left-hander Lara Goodall gets off the mark with a beautifully-timed clip off her legs for four.
Wow, that is a huge blow for South Africa to lose Laura Wolvaardt so early. Can they put that behind them and carry on with their run chase?
Postpublished at 06:07 British Summer Time 31 March 2022
Alex Hartley
England spinner on BBC Test Match Special
Image source, Getty ImagesShe has just gone to tuck one into the leg side, the bat has turned in her hands and it's gone straight back to Anya Shrubsole. England are up and about.
Postpublished at 06:07 British Summer Time 31 March 2022
Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport's chief cricket writer
Image source, Getty ImagesCaught and bowled! The tournament's leading run-scorer is gone second ball for a duck!
WICKETpublished at 1.2 overs
Wolvaardt c & b Shrubsole 0 (SA 1-1)
HUGE breakthrough!
Laura Wolvaardt has been the glue of this South Africa line up throughout the World Cup and the tournament's leading run-scorer.
But she hasn't added to her tally today, tamely chipping one straight back to Anya Shrubsole, who dives forward and hangs on to it in her follow through.
The worst possible start for South Africa.
Postpublished at 06:05 British Summer Time 31 March 2022
Alex Hartley
England spinner on BBC Test Match SpecialYou do not want to get ahead of yourself and think you are already in a World Cup final.
Postpublished at 06:05 British Summer Time 31 March 2022
Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport's chief cricket writerEngland may feel they have got one foot in the final after posting 293-8.
SA 1-0published at 1 over
Target 294
A very good start from Katherine Brunt, just conceding one wide.
Lizelle Lee hasn't been in form and hasn't been anywhere near her best. But if she gets going ... watch out.
SA 0-0published at 0.1 overs
Lizelle Lee solidly defends Katherine Brunt's first ball, which is bang on the money.
Good morning! What's happened so far?published at 06:00 British Summer Time 31 March 2022
If you're just waking up here in the UK, here's a quick summary of what you've missed.
England lost the toss and were put in to bat by South Africa. Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight and Nat Sciver all departed cheaply but heroics from Danni Wyatt (129) and Sophia Dunkley (60) helped England post a formidable 293-8.
South Africa fought hard with the ball but they dropped Danni Wyatt five times, and she made them pay for it.
294 is their target - and Lizelle Lee and Laura Wolvaardt are just making their way to the middle to begin their pursuit.
Postpublished at 05:56 British Summer Time 31 March 2022
Lizelle Lee and Sune Luus are both playing in their 100th ODIs for South Africa today.
Just imagine how much a win today would feel for them.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 05:50 British Summer Time 31 March 2022
England's total of 293 will certainly be a tough ask for South Africa to chase but it's not impossible for them.
Lizelle Lee is due a score and she's proven before just how destructive she can be. Laura Wolvaardt is in stunning form, too. If they can get a good start, it'll give South Africa a lot of confidence.
Postpublished at 05:47 British Summer Time 31 March 2022
Sophia Dunkley smashed 60, and Sophie Ecclestone added some very useful lower order runs as she finished with 24 from 11 balls.
But the star was undoubtedly opener Wyatt, who made the most of being dropped five times (yes, five!) to rack up her highest ODI score of 129.
Postpublished at 05:44 British Summer Time 31 March 2022
But Danni Wyatt stood firm and built useful partnerships with Amy Jones and then Sophia Dunkley.
South Africa battled hard, and took wickets at key times early in the innings, but their change seamers and the spin of Chloe Tryon struggled to match the consistency of Kapp and Ismail.
England knew they just had to wait for the bad ball, and there was at least one an over on offer for them to cash in.
Postpublished at 05:41 British Summer Time 31 March 2022
After winning the toss, South Africa started well thanks to their talismanic seamers Marizanne Kapp and Shabnim Ismail.
England's 'big three' of Tammy Beaumont, Heather Knight and Nat Sciver all fell cheaply, leaving the innings on a knife edge at 77-3.
Postpublished at 05:38 British Summer Time 31 March 2022
Perfectly summed up! Thanks, Sam.
England certainly are favourites at the halfway stage. 294 will take some chasing.
Let's take a look back at that first innings.
England set South Africa 294 to winpublished at 05:37 British Summer Time 31 March 2022
Well, from 126-4, England would have snapped your hand off to be in this situation. South Africa dropped Danni Wyatt five times, she punished them with a brilliant century and now the Proteas require a record chase at a World Cup to reach the final.
It's certainly not beyond them. They showed what they can do in the win over India but it will be very tough. England are in a strong position at the halfway stage.
I'll hand you over to Ffion Wynne to reflect on that innings and the start of the chase.
Postpublished at 05:36 British Summer Time 31 March 2022
England batter Danni Wyatt: "I'm very pleased. Sophia Dunkley played so well, and we've got a great score on the board which is important in a semi-final.
"Our bowlers have got to come out now and back that up and get the win!
"It was a good wicket, I just wanted to run well and capitalise on any width I got. It was just a matter of hanging in there even if the wickets fell and just play my game.
"There were drops but that's just cricket! I've also got out to some good catches in this World Cup. It's just about capitalising on those chances so I'm happy to do that.
"I'm really happy to have performed today, I just hope we get the win. There's still a lot of work to do but we're happy with the total."
Postpublished at 05:33 British Summer Time 31 March 2022
Alex Hartley
England spinner on BBC Test Match SpecialEngland couldn't have asked for much more, especially having lost the toss.
Scoreboard pressure in knockout matches always gives you the upper hand. Danni Wyatt was fantastic, Sophia Dunkley as well and then Sophie Ecclestone just winding them up a little more.