**England vs South Africa: Women’s T20 World Cup – Live Updates**
The match is set to begin at 3 PM (BST) in Sharjah.
**2nd Over: South Africa 14-0 (Wolvaardt 9, Brits 4)**
As the sun begins to set in Sharjah, the call to prayer resonates through the air. Linsey Smith, England’s left-arm spinner, takes the ball for the second over. She had a strong performance against Bangladesh, particularly in the early stages. Wolvaardt, however, quickly makes her mark, creating space to drive the ball through cover for a boundary—an excellent shot. Smith soon finds her rhythm, and as commentator Lydia Greenway points out, her journey back into the team is noteworthy. After a five-year absence since her debut in the 2018 T20 World Cup, Smith has made a significant comeback in her late 20s, showcasing the strength of the England domestic system that has allowed her to return at this peak stage of her career. Later in the over, she nearly traps Brits with a leg before wicket appeal, but the ball is sliding past the leg stump, and the team opts not to review. The over concludes with eight runs added.
**1st Over: South Africa 6-0 (Wolvaardt 4, Brits 1)**
The match kicks off with a beautiful shot from Wolvaardt, who skillfully guides the ball behind point for three runs, demonstrating complete control. The excitement continues as a dropped catch occurs; Knight, positioned at first slip with Jones up to the stumps, fails to secure a difficult chance moving to her right, giving Brits a fortunate reprieve. After a couple of misses down the leg side, Smith regains her focus, nearly bowling Brits as she shoulders arms. The first over wraps up with a flurry of action.
Stay tuned for more updates as the match progresses!