England are favourites and unbeaten but certainly had the easier group at this World Cup. I expect this to be a very tight contest and one South Africa could edge.
Key Stats - South Africa finding Form at the Right time
- England Women’s Danni Wyatt-Hodge has scored 105*, 65 & 89* in 5 innings.
- England Women’s Sophia Dunkley has scores of 57 & 49* in her last 3 knocks.
- England Women’s Sophie Ecclestone has taken 2/27, 3/22 & 2/23 in 5 matches.
- South Africa Women’s Tazmin Brits has scored 40, 114* & 20 in her last 3 knocks.
- South Africa Women’s Annerie Dercksen has scored 52, 37* & 45 in 4 innings.
- South Africa Women’s Laura Wolvaardt has scored 44, 20 & 45 in her last 5 knocks.
- South Africa Women’s Marizanne Kapp has taken 3/23, 2/27 & 1/9 in 4 matches.
England lead 4-1
Four of the last five T20I matches between these teams have gone England's way.
England Women in Outstanding Form
England Women enter this knockout encounter in outstanding form after winning all five of their group matches. They completed the group stage with a commanding nine-wicket victory over New Zealand Women on June 27, reaching their target of 164 with 16 deliveries remaining. The result confirmed England’s position at the top of the rankings heading into the decisive phase of the tournament.
Danni Wyatt has spearheaded the batting effort, scoring 282 runs at a strike rate of 153.26. Her campaign includes a superb unbeaten 105. Sophia Dunkley has provided consistency near the top with 120 runs at 139.53, while Nat Sciver-Brunt has added considerable middle-order power, compiling 94 runs at a strike rate of 159.32.
Sophie Ecclestone has led the bowling attack with eight wickets and an excellent economy rate of 5.90. Charlie Dean has collected seven wickets with her off-spin, while young seamer Freya Kemp has claimed six, including career-best figures of 4/22.
South Africa Women Hitting Top Form at Right Time
South Africa Women have responded to their opening defeat against Australia by recording four successive victories. Their latest win came against Bangladesh Women on June 28, when they successfully chased 118 with four balls remaining to secure a tense four-wicket triumph.
Tazmin Brits leads their run-scoring with 174 at a strike rate of 134.88, highlighted by an unbeaten 114. Marizanne Kapp has supplied valuable attacking intent, making 119 runs at 148.75, while Annerie Dercksen has contributed 138 runs at a strike rate of 135.29.
Kapp has been equally influential with the new ball, taking seven wickets while conceding only 5.21 runs per over. Ayabonga Khaka has also claimed seven wickets through regular breakthroughs, with Nonkululeko Mlaba providing control through the middle overs. The spinner has five wickets and an economy rate of 5.80.
England vs South Africa Women Predicted Lineups & Team news
Both teams are enjoying strong runs of form and are unlikely to make any changes to their lineups. Nat Sciver-Brunt’s rehabilitation from her injury has gone well and she has had some net sessions and England are hoping she will be fit for Thursday’s semi-final.
Sciver-Brunt scored 47, 57, 46* and 48 in her last five knocks, but there is a risk that if she is selected for the semi-final she might hold back from full effort due to her injury and it might also unsettle a winning England unit. That could potentially swing the balance in South Africa’s favour and with the Proteas looking to be peaking at just the right moment I’m going to take the favourable odds and back them for the win to take them to their third World Cup final in a row.
England Women (possible XI): Amy Jones, Danielle Wyatt Hodge, Sophia Dunkley, Alice Capsey, Heather Knight, Freya Kemp, Danielle Gibson, Charlotte Dean (c), Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell.
South Africa Women (possible XI): Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Annerie Dercksen, Dane van Niekerk, Marizanne Kapp, Nadine de Klerk, Chloe Tryon, Sinalo Jafta, Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba.