England Women vs South Africa Women Predictions & Odds

England Women: Sophia Dunkley, Danielle Wyatt, Alice Capsey, Natalie Sciver, Heather Knight (c), Amy Jones (wk), Sophie Ecclestone, Katherine Brunt, Charlotte Dean, Sarah Glenn, Lauren Bell

South Africa Women: Laura Wolvaardt, Tazmin Brits, Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus (c), Chloe Tryon, Nadine de Klerk, Anneke Bosch, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, Nonkululeko Mlaba

South Africa Women Look to Channel Home Advantage Against Formidable England 

The second semi-final of the Women's T20 World Cup 2023 will feature England and South Africa Women battling it out for the spot in the final. The two teams will clash at Newlands in Cape Town on Friday, Feb. 24. 

South Africa have never reached the T20 World Cup final and they'd be hoping to do it this time at their home. England, on the other hand, won the inaugural edition but then went down in the final on three occasions. 

The Heather Knight-led side topped Group 2 with four wins in as many games. They made a strong statement in the final group fixture, crushing Pakistan by a record 114 runs. 

Nat Sciver-Brunt was the star of the show with an unbeaten 81 off 40 balls. Danni Wyatt scored 59 off 33 while Amy Jones struck 47 off 31 as they smashed the highest total in women's T20 WC - 213/5. Katherine Sciver-Brunt and Charlie Dean bagged two scalps each, restricting Pakistan to 99/9.

The Protea women secured the second spot in Group 1 with two wins and as many losses. They were tied on points with New Zealand and Sri Lanka but had a superior net run rate. The hosts needed to win the final group game to seal the semi-final spot and they did it by 10 wickets.

Marizanne Kapp and Ayabonga Khaka snared two wickets each to restrict Bangladesh to just 113/6. Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits then chased down the target with 11 balls to spare after a slow start. Wolvaardt struck 66 not-out in 56 balls while Brits also scored an unbeaten fifty.

Team News

England have a destructive top order of Sophia Dunkley, Danielle Wyatt, and Alice Capsey but the trio has been inconsistent. Nat Sciver-Brunt has been in magnificent touch at number four while Heather Knight also has the ability to play according to the situation. Amy Jones has played a couple of crucial knocks at the back end. In the bowling unit, Lauren Bell was rested last game and should be back to form the pace attack alongside Nat and Katherine Sciver-Brunt. The spin trio of Sophie Ecclestone, Sarah Glenn, and Charlie Dean has done a solid job. 

South Africa have Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits at the top of the order, followed by Marizanne Kapp and Sune Luus in the middle order. While they have quality, the lack of firepower could be an issue against England. Chloe Tryon holds the key in the end overs to provide that power boost. Their bowling attack is potent and they need to be at the top of their game to have a chance. The pace trio of Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka, and Kapp has been in good form while left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba has done a decent job. Nadine de Klerk could be a game-changer with her pace.

Key Players 

Nat Sciver-Brunt is coming off a magnificent 81* off 40 and will be the key in the big semi-final. She has scored the most 176 runs in the group stage at a strike rate of 147 with two fifties. The all-rounder has taken 79 wickets in T20I cricket at an economy of 6.45. 

Marizanne Kapp has been in superb form with the ball, taking seven scalps in four games at an exceptional economy of 4.65. Kapp hasn't fired with the bat in three innings this tournament but is one of South Africa's better bets in this match.