Last Update: February 14, 2023, 09:42 IST
England batsman plays a shot during their 2023 T20 World Cup match against Ireland.
England captain Heather Knight said her players have been able to focus on cricket. He said he left his hotel in Cape Town to shouts of excitement from the Indian players, who were the main focus of bidders from Indian franchises.
England and South Africa remove distractions from player auction India And got a crucial win on the fourth day of the Women’s T20 World Cup at Boland Park in Paarl.
England took charge of Group Two, beating Ireland by four wickets to record their second consecutive win, while South Africa thrust themselves into contention with a 65-run win over New Zealand in Group One.
Monday’s double-header was played as India’s Women’s Premier League auction was taking place in Mumbai, with players from both teams as well as New Zealanders offering potentially life-changing deals.
England captain Heather Knight said her players have been able to focus on cricket. He said he left his hotel in Cape Town to shouts of excitement from the Indian players, who were the main focus of bidders from Indian franchises.
“Whatever happens in the IPL doesn’t affect the value of the players in our team,” he added.
Left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone showed why she was bought by the Uttar Pradesh Warriors franchise for the equivalent of US$220 000 when she bowled out Ireland for 105. Ecclestone took three wickets for 13 runs.
Another WPL target, Ellyse Capsy, who was bought by the Delhi Capitals for $91,000, got off to an early start with a 22-ball 51 in England’s reply.
Nat Sciver-Brunt, who attracted the joint-highest price for an overseas player, had a quiet day, bowling two overs that cost ten runs and was dismissed for five. He was bought by Mumbai Indians for $390 000.
“She probably won’t like all the attention,” Knight said. “She is very humble. She is very good at cricket.”
Knight himself went unsold in the initial bid, but was later bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for $49,000. He came to know only after the match.
“I’m looking forward to it but my focus is now on captaining England at the World Cup,” he said.
Most of South Africa’s players went unsold, but vice-captain Chloe Tryon, who was the team’s match-winner against New Zealand with 40 runs and two wickets, was bought by the Mumbai Indians for $37,000.
Fellow all-rounder Marijan Kapp bagged a $183 000 deal from Delhi Capitals. His wife, Dane van Niekerk, who was controversially left out of the World Cup squad on fitness grounds, was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore for $37 000.
Fast bowler Shabnam Ismail was the only other South African to be signed up, with UP Warriors securing his services for $122 000.
Tryon said of the auction, “I didn’t think I needed to see it.” “I didn’t want to think about it, although someone told me about it. I wanted to focus on the game.”
Tryon said of the New Zealand match, ‘It was do or die.
South Africa fought back to 132 for six in 20 overs but bowled New Zealand out for 67.
Left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba struck twice in the first three overs of New Zealand’s innings and the White Ferns could not recover. It was effectively a must win game for both teams as they both lost their opening games.
Mlaba took three wickets for ten wickets in his four overs – his best figures in T20 Internationals.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)