South Africa and England battled hard in the second semi-final of ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023 on Friday (February 24) in Cape Town, with the hosts prevailing in a nail-biting finish by six runs to reach their first-ever World Cup final.

Interestingly, this is the first time a senior South African cricket team, irrespective of gender, has made it to the final of any World Cup. It was an achievement of epic proportions for the Sune Luus-led team in front of a passionate home crowd.

Luus won the toss and elected to bat first, a decision vindicated by the openers as Laura Wolvaardt (53) and Tazmin Brits (68) struck fifties and added 96 runs for the opening wicket. Marizanne Kapp provided the finishing touch with 27* in 13 balls to help the home team finish at 164/4 - a competitive score in a semi-final.

Sophie Ecclestone was the most successful England bowler as she took 3/22 in her four overs. England also got off to a confident start with Danni Wyatt (34) and Sophia Dunkley (28) adding 53 in just five overs, before Shabnim Ismail's double-strike in the final over of the powerplay.

Nat Sciver-Brunt (40) and captain Heather Knight (31) got together and seemed to be in control of the situation as England needed 34 from four overs with 7 wickets in hand, but that's where it all went wrong for them as England kept losing wickets regularly in the search of big hits.

Ayabonga Khaka finished with 4/29 and Shabnim Ismail (3/27) had 13 runs to defend in the final over, which she did brilliantly by conceding only six runs and picking up the wicket of Knight to restrict England to 158/8.

South Africa won by six runs and booked a date with Australia in the final on Sunday at the same venue. While the hosts will try to win their first title, Australia will be after a hat-trick of titles.

South African cricket fraternity expectedly was jubilant after the triumph and lauded the team for reaching a historic first-ever World Cup final.

Here are some of the tweets: