MINETY’S Fran Wilson helped England reach the Women’s World Cup final by winning a nerve-shredding contest against South Africa with only two balls to spare, writes Danny Hall.

Western Storm player Wilson anchored the lower-middle order with a measured 30 from 38 balls, and although she was caught behind with two overs left, the experienced Jenny Gunn (27 from 27 balls) shepherded the tail home.

“Fran was really calm throughout, we had a clear plan and we knew we could hit boundaries if they bowled it in the wrong areas,” Gunn explained.

“As soon as you get the runs down, it puts the pressure back on the fielding side.”

Wilson said: “We were ahead of the rate for a long time, it was just resisting the urge to tee off, staying in the game for a long time and hitting the bad ball.”

Anya Shrubsole hit the decisive boundary to seal a two-wicket win for England, who were left needing two runs from the last three balls of a dramatic contest in Bristol.

South Africa had earlier set England a target of 219 to win after Laura Wolvaardt (66) and the unbeaten Mignon du Preez (76) had given the underdogs hope of a shock victory.

But Sarah Taylor set England on their way with 54 before Wilson, Gunn and Shrubsole dragged their team over the line.

England will now face the winner of Thursday's other semi-final – either Australia or India – in the final at Lord’s on Sunday in front of a sell-out crowd of more than 26,500.