Lots at stake as England, South Africa clash for semi-final spot

Overview

England v South AfricaWWT20 Match 15
Darren Sammy International Cricket Stadium, St Lucia

Both teams have played two games so far and while South Africa have had straight results – a win against Sri Lanka followed by a loss to the Windies – England have been a tad unlucky in that their match against Sri Lanka was washed out before they defeated Bangladesh in another rain-hit match.

So England start out with a slight advantage, having three points to South Africa's two, but the latter are clear, especially after a humbling at the hands of the Windies, that beating England and Bangladesh, who they play in their final league game, is the way forward – it's either that or nothing.

South Africa captain Dane van Niekerk was forthright in her assessment of the batters and emphasised on the need to cross the 100-run mark, which South Africa have struggled to do in the tournament.

"We really need to go do some introspection as batters and then try and figure out where we're going wrong at the moment, because it's been a bit of ... I don't know if it's a habit or what it's been, but since the warm-ups our batting struggled to get to 100," she pointed out.

And right she was, as only Lizelle Lee and Marizanne Kapp could reach double figures in the chase of 108 against the Windies, where South Africa were bundled for 76. Against a strong England side, their batting will have to do better.

All's not gloomy for them, though, as the bowlers have done a good job, restricting a strong Windies side to a low total. Shabnim Ismail picked up 3/12 – her second three-for in the tournament – while van Niekerk herself got two wickets. Kapp has also been in good form.

For England, there's everything to test and play for. In the game against Bangladesh, they didn't break a sweat in their DLS-revised chase of 64 runs from 16 overs after having restricted Bangladesh to 76/9.

Young Kirstie Gordon was the star with the ball with her 3/16, while Natalie Sciver, Anya Shrubsole and Sophie Ecclestone all chipped in with wickets. England will look to keep up the good show, and they have the personnel in the ranks to do just that.

Key players

**Danni Wyatt (England):**The explosive opening bat may not have had a big start to the tournament, but that's also due to circumstances. With her ability to take apart any bowling attack, Wyatt will be the No.1 target for the South African new-ball bowlers.

**Shabnim Ismail (South Africa):**She was one of the positives from an otherwise dismal show against the Windies with her three wickets and South Africa will bank on her to get the early breakthroughs, especially of Wyatt and the other main English batters.

Conditions

It's been raining quite heavily in St Lucia but Friday is expected to be comparatively drier. The pitch has been on the slower side and any score in the vicinity of 120 may be tough to chase on this ground.

Squads

**England:**Heather Knight (c), Katherine Brunt, Sophia Dunkley Brown, Sophie Ecclestone, Natasha Farrant, Kirstie Gordon, Jenny Gunn, Danielle Hazell, Amy Ellen Jones, Natalie Sciver, Linsey Smith, Anya Shrubsole, Lauren Winfield, Danielle Wyatt, Tammy Beaumont, Fran Wilson

**South Africa:**Dane Van Niekerk (c), Trisha Chetty, Mignon du Preez, Shabnim Ismail, Marizanne Kapp, Masabata Klaas, Lizelle Lee, Sune Luus, Zintle Mali, Raisibe Ntozakhe, Robyn Searle, Tumi Sekhukhune, Saarah Smith, Chloe Tryon, Laura Wolvaardt.