GROS ISLET: Anya Shrubsole took a hat-trick as England thrashed South Africa by seven wickets in Saint Lucia on Friday to storm into the Women’s World Twenty20 semi-finals.

Hosts and reigning champions West Indies also reached the last-four phase when they beat Sri Lanka on Saturday.

It was a must-win game for World Cup champions England after their opening game against Sri Lanka was washed out, but a tame effort with the bat from South Africa ensured the match was never a real contest.

“Anya’s bowled brilliantly for us, and to have so few runs to chase was nice,” said England captain Heather Knight.

The usually big-hitting Lizelle Lee crawled to a 26-ball 12 before being trapped by Natalie Sciver, who ended with incredible figures of three for four from four overs, as South Africa mustered a paltry 85 all out.

Shrubsole, the star of England’s thrilling World Cup final win over India last year, wrapped up the innings by becoming only the second woman from her country to take a T20 International hat-trick after Sciver against New Zealand in 2013.

She dismissed Shabnim Ismail, Masabata Klaas and Yolani Fourie with the first three balls of the final over.

England openers Danni Wyatt and Tammy Beaumont put on a quickfire 55, and wicket-keeper Amy Jones’ driven four wrapped up a thumping victory with 35 balls to spare.

“The manner of the loss [means] we owe an apology to our whole country, it’s not our character to roll over like that,” bemoaned South Africa skipper Dane van Niekerk, who was run out backing up for one. “We have the firepower and the talent but you need to perform at World Cups against quality sides like England. I don’t know what’s going on, I don’t have answers.”

Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin put up a belligerent 94-run opening stand in 9.4 overs to set up a West Indies’ total of 187-5 against Sri Lanka. Matthews scored the second-fastest fifty of the even, reaching the mark off 25 balls.

Deandra Dottin and Stafanie Taylor contributed 49 and 41 respectively, with Taylor striking 22 off the last eight balls she faced to ensure that her team’s strong start was not wasted.

Only captain Chamari Athapaththu (44) provided any resistance for Sri Lanka, as Matthews capped off her day by becoming the first woman to take three wicket and score a half century in an ICC Women’s World T20 match. Sri Lanka were bow­led out for 104 in 17.4 overs, handing the hosts a massive 83-run win.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2018