On the fourth day of the Women’s T20 World Cup at Boland Park in Paarl, England and South Africa overcame the interruptions of an Indian player auction to secure significant victories. With their second straight victory over Ireland by four wickets, England grabbed control of Group Two, and South Africa returned to contention in Group One with a 65-run victory over New Zealand.
The doubleheader on Monday was organised in parallel with the Women’s Premier League auction in Mumbai, which offered players from both teams as well as those from New Zealand the possibility of life-altering contracts.
England took command of Group Two, beating Ireland by four wickets to notch their second successive win, while South Africa played themselves back into contention in Group One with a 65-run win over New Zealand.#WT20WChttps://t.co/6UwZZ5KTFZ
— CricketNDTV (@CricketNDTV) February 14, 2023
England skipper Heather Knight stated that her team was able to focus on the game. She claimed that as they checked out of their Cape Town hotel, they could hear Indian players excitedly shouting as they competed for the attention of Indian franchise bids.
The worth of the players on our team is unaffected by what occurs in the IPL, she claimed.
When she caused Ireland to collapse to 105 all out, left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone demonstrated why the Uttar Pradesh Warriors franchise paid her the equivalent of roughly US$220,000 for her services. Ecclestone made three of thirteen.
When England responded, another WPL target, Alice Capsey, who Delhi Capitals paid $91 000 for, set up an early finish by hitting 51 off 22 balls.
Nat Sciver-Brunt, who received the second-highest pay for an international player, had a quiet day, bowling two overs that cost ten runs and was out for five. Mumbai Indians paid $390,000 for her.
Knight predicted that she would dislike all the attention. She is quite modest. She simply excels at cricket.
Early bids failed to sell Knight herself, but Royal Challengers Bangalore later purchased her for $49,000. She didn’t learn until after the match.
She stated, “I’m looking forward to that, but right now, my concentration is on captaining England in the World Cup. The majority of South Africa’s players remained unsigned, but vice-captain Chloe Tryon, who helped her team defeat New Zealand with 40 runs and two wickets, was purchased for $37,000 by the Mumbai Indians.
A $183 000 contract with Delhi Capitals was secured by fellow all-arounder Marizanne Kapp. Dane van Niekerk, her wife, was controversially purchased by Royal Challengers Bangalore for $37,000 despite being unfit to compete in the World Cup.
The only other South African to be signed was fast bowler Shabnim Ismail, who cost UP Warriorz $122,000.
Regarding the auction, Tryon stated, “I didn’t feel I needed to see it.” “Despite someone telling me about it, I didn’t want to think about it. I wanted to pay close attention to the game.
Regarding the New Zealand game, Tryon noted, “It was do or die”.
In their 20 overs, South Africa battled to 132 for 6, but they bowled out New Zealand for 67.
The White Ferns were unable to recover as left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba struck twice in the opening three overs of New Zealand’s innings. Both clubs had lost their opening games, therefore it was really a contest they had to win.
Mlaba had her finest T20 international performance, three for 10 in four overs.
