Women’s World Cup | SA needs an all-round show to challenge a gritty England in semifinals

Life in the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 comes full circle for England and South Africa. The sides are back to where their campaigns began in this tournament (against each other), with both eager to leave triumphs and demons of the past.

The record, over the years, has not been kind to the South Africans. In the three prior semifinals they have made in ODI World Cups, they’ve lost twice to England — a heartbreaking two-wicket reverse in Bristol in 2017 and a 137-run demolition in Christchurch in 2022.

Even in this edition, the horrors of a 10-wicket thrashing at the hands of Nat Sciver-Brunt’s side are far from erased for the Proteas.

It comes as no surprise then, that skipper Laura Wolvaardt placed value on the side staying calm ahead of Wednesday’s semifinal at the ACA Stadium here.

Barring a tame loss to Australia and a few scares against Bangladesh and Pakistan, an England side in transition has given a fairly neat account of itself, with different players stepping up and guiding their side to victories.

Its spinners have dominated so far, with Linsey Smith’s utility and stinginess, particularly with the new ball, proving vital to the side’s cause. She was the architect of that South African crumble weeks ago, where the Proteas combusted for just 69.

South Africa will need its famed batting order to click in cohesion. Wolvaardt, Sune Luus, and Marizanne Kapp have all been key to victories in different games, but haven’t had one good game together.

Tazmin Brits’ volatility will need a quick fix, as the undue pressure an early wicket puts on the top order often attracts collapses. Nadine de Klerk had plenty of time with the batting coach, showing how crucial a lower-order maverick like her can be against a formidable English bowling attack. Nonkululeko Mlaba has been their best bowler, but will need a lot more help in this do-or-die encounter.

With the rain gods likely playing a spoilsport in Navi Mumbai instead, an uninterrupted fixture is on the cards.