England have the higher hand however South Africa have residence assist

Big image: England the favourites

South Africa in a semi-final. Against England. You suppose you know the way this ends, do not you?

Three instances in three conferences — on the 2014 T20 World Cup and 2017 and 2022 fifty-over World Cup — England have emerged triumphant from a remaining 4 assembly towards South Africa and there is not any doubt they’ve the historic higher hand. They even have the up to date one.

England go into this semi-final on the again of an unbeaten run that stretches again 10 video games and on an upward trajectory. They beat their final group stage opponents — Pakistan — by 114 runs, the largest margin in Women’s T20 World Cups. On the identical day, South Africa made heavy work of chasing precisely that variety of runs towards Bangladesh. While their opening pair discovered type, their middle-order stays unproven on this event they usually rely closely on their bowling assault. That means the massive match-up on this recreation shall be between South Africa’s bowlers and the Bazbelles that make up England’s batting line-up.

Nat Sciver-Brunt has led the cost and completed the group stage because the main run-scorer and although Heather Knight and Alice Capsey have had comparatively quiet tournaments to date, England have loads of firepower. They even have the data that South Africa’s fielding, particularly because the state of affairs will get extra tense, can fray and can demand the hosts placed on a greater show than they’ve managed to to date if they’re to face any likelihood of advancing to their first World Cup remaining.

For all that is towards them, South Africa have one large factor of their favour: residence assist. Newlands has already seen a file crowd for a ladies’s worldwide — of over 7,500 folks — within the event opener and the semi-final match may set a brand new one and the tone for a era of girls’s gamers to return.

In the top, the legacy of this semi-final might show to be essential in a rustic like South Africa the place the home system stays fragile and prone to falling additional behind international locations like Australia, England and India. South Africa have come closest to breaking the massive three hegemony on the expansion of the ladies’s recreation and this event shall be a litmus check for a way far off the tempo or near the boil they’re.

Form information

South Africa WLWLW (final 5 accomplished matches, most up-to-date first)
England: WWWWW

In the highlight: Sune Luus and Sophia Dunkley

Suné Luus earned her a centesimal T20I cap in South Africa’s final, must-win group-stage match towards Bangladesh however has but to completely impose herself on the house World Cup. She has proven constructive intent however been dismissed taking over the spinners twice, one thing she is going to wish to enhance on as she negotiates the center overs. That can be her problem within the subject. While Luus appears to have a plan upfront with Nonkululekho Mlaba and a rotation of the quicks within the Powerplay, she should devise a plan towards England’s sturdy middle-order.

For all England’s big-hitting, opening batter Sophia Dunkley has had a quiet event with a highest rating of 34 of their opener towards West Indies and three knocks of 10 runs or fewer since. Dunkley has been struggling to clear the ball within the ‘V’ and has twice holed out to mid-on however there’s sufficient proof to counsel she will get that shot proper. She got here into the event in good contact and blasted unbeaten scores of 59 off 19 balls and 60 off 38 balls towards South Africa and New Zealand respectively and can wish to carry out her most attacking recreation within the semi-finals.

Team news: Bell to return for England

South Africa have most popular Anneke Bosch over Delmi Tucker and Ayabonga Khaka over Masabata Klaas for his or her matches at Newlands and are prone to persist with that mixture.

South Africa: 1 Laura Wolvaardt, 2 Tazmin Brits, 3 Marizanne Kapp, 4 Suné Luus (capt), 5 Chloe Tryon, 6 Anneke Bosch, 7 Nadine de Klerk, 8 Sinalo Jafta (wk), 9 Shabnim Ismail, 10 Ayabonga Khaka, 11 Nonkululekho Mlaba

After resting Lauren Bell for the match towards Pakistan, England are set to return to their first-choice XI.

England: 1 Danni Wyatt, 2 Sophia Dunkley, 3 Alice Capsey, 4 Nat Sciver-Brunt, 5 Heather Knight (capt), 6 Amy Jones (wk), 7 Sophie Ecclestone, 8 Katherine Sciver-Brunt, 9 Sarah Glenn, 10 Charlie Dean, 11 Lauren Bell

Pitch and situations

Newlands has hosted 16 T20s this summer season throughout the SA20 and Women’s World Cup and its sq. is exhibiting indicators of late season fatigue. Apart from pretty low and generally uneven bounce, the pitches have lacked tempo and supplied some flip which is opposite to what groups normally count on in South Africa. Only England have appeared free-flowing at this venue whereas bowlers on all sides have learnt to not err on the brief facet, however pitch it up as an alternative. Temperatures are cooler than final week, with the utmost anticipated within the mid-20s, no rain and solely the gentlest of breezes.

Stats and trivia

In head-to-head phrases, England maintain the higher hand. They have gained 19 out of 23 T20Is towards South Africa, and solely misplaced to them as soon as at a World Cup — in February 2020.
England have a batting strike price of 154.77 towards spin on this event — one of the best of any staff.
South Africa’s strike price towards tempo is 94.44, the third worst behind New Zealand and Bangladesh.

Quotes

That’s nice, then there is not any stress on us or something. We can simply exit and luxuriate in, play free cricket, benefit from the second and attempt to do our greatest.

Asked if South Africa have been written off earlier than a ball has even bowled Suné Luus was bullish.

«The pressure is all on South Africa. It’s the home World Cup for them. So, we’re just going to keep doing what we’re doing. There’s such a calm feeling in our group at the minute, which is really nice. So, I think we’re not going to change anything. It’s just going to be really important to stay calm and just enjoy each other’s company, I guess. And just go out there, back ourselves and what will be, will be.»

But Danni Wyatt says the ball is in South Africa’s court docket.

Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo’s correspondent for South Africa and girls’s cricket

Source web site: www.espncricinfo.com