When England take on South Africa in the Cricket World Cup semi-final in Guwahati on Wednesday, batting collapse may be at the back of both teams’ minds, if not the front.
At the same venue on October 3, South Africa opened the tournament with a 10-wicket defeat by England, who trailed them by just 69 runs.
And for England, it’s the same opponent they so spectacularly capitulated in the last world semi-final, the 2023 T20 World Cup.
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Nasser Hussain and Ian Ward look ahead to England vs. South Africa and discuss Sophie Ecclestone’s fitness and whether Siver Brandt’s side can cope with a knockout game
Two years ago, England, then captained by Heather Knight and coached by John Lewis, required 33 runs from 23 balls with seven wickets in hand to reach the T20 final.
But when Nat Silver-Brunt fed Nadine de Klerk to long-on, England came to terms and snatched defeat from the brink of victory, finishing the 165-run chase at 158-8.
The inability to handle pressure was similarly seen in the following T20 World Cup, where a slew of catch drops led to a disastrous defeat to West Indies and exit from the group stage.
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England drop five catches in heartbreaking defeat to West Indies in 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup
These flaws were witnessed again in last winter’s Ashes series in Australia, where England lost 16-0 on points across the format. It was the final test for decision makers.
Knight stepped down as captain but remained a key player, while Lewis stepped down as coach.
Under new captain Silver Brunt and coach Charlotte Edwards, this England team has strength, which was shown in the World Cup league stage when they bounced back from some shaky batting to beat Bangladesh and then fought back with the ball to beat India.
Siver-Blunt urges England to ‘trust their way’
But now it is judgment day for England, who will see if they can win their first knockout match since defeating South Africa in the 2022 50-over World Cup semi-final.
Have we turned a corner, or are old mistakes creeping back in?
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Highlights of the narrow 4-run win between England and India in Indore, which qualified them for the semi-finals of the Women’s Cricket World Cup.
“It’s really special to reach the World Cup finals so early in your tenure and we take that extra pressure as a privilege,” said Shiver-Brant.
“Hopefully, we can instill in everyone that they believe in what we’re doing, believe that everything we’ve done is right, and that it’s enough to show it on the pitch.
“The hardest thing about a big match is treating it like any other match, but I hope everyone can be really confident in their skills.
“We have some guys who haven’t played in the knockout stages, but we also have very experienced guys who have played in the knockout stages. The message to the team was to believe in everything we’ve done so far.”
I think England are in a good position. The loss to Australia may have brought them down, but I think it was mostly a good thing because they were under pressure. They have also excelled on the field, which is a good sign of where they are as a team.
Former England seamer Tash Farrant speaks to Sky Sports
Sky Sports’ Cricketer Nasser Hussain added: “The game against India was a good sign. England played in front of a big crowd and although they lost the match, they handled the pressure really well.”
“They might be a little bit mentally scarred from the first game of the tournament, so now we expect them to play against South Africa.
“I think Tazmin Blitz is the key wicket. If she gets to the flyer, other players will be able to attack around her and South Africa will feel they can control the game. If she goes early, they come back with a baggage of 69 all out.”
England’s spin bowler – but not below middle order
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Highlights from the opening match of the Women’s Cricket World Cup, where England defeated South Africa for 69 and won by 10 wickets.
All out for 69 earlier this month saw three of South Africa’s top four batsmen, Briton Laura Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp, lose to England’s left-arm spinner Lindsay Smith, but the Proteas were bundled out for 97 on Saturday as Australian leg-spinner Alana King recorded a new World Cup record of 7-18 from seven overs.
Spin bowling was a highlight of England’s World Cup, with Smith’s drift, Sophie Ecclestone’s bounce and Charlie Dean’s turn helping the trio take a combined 32 wickets. Left-armers Smith and Ecclestone took 12 wickets each, while off-spinner Dean took eight.
Ecclestone injured his shoulder bowling in Sunday’s eight-wicket win over New Zealand, but is expected to be fit enough to face the Proteas, who won 6-36 against South Africa in the World Cup semi-final in Christchurch three years ago.
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England spinner Ecclestone was brilliant against Sri Lanka earlier this month, picking up four wickets in five overs.
After Danny Wyatt Hodge’s 129 off 125 balls at Hagley Oval gave them a total of 293-8, England cantered to 137 runs to beat their opponents by 156 runs.
Wyatt Hodge replaced Emma Lamb in England’s final group match at this World Cup, but the latter was absent as she averaged 7.20 in five innings with a best score of 13.
Wyatt Hodge played just seven deliveries against New Zealand, two of which were not out, but it feels like maybe it was a mistake for England not to bring her into bat at the fall of the first wicket when they needed 94 more in a chase of 169.
Should England have given Danny Wyatt Hodge more of a blow in Sunday’s regular game against New Zealand?
That means the 34-year-old will face South Africa in inadequate form, with Sophia Dunkley and Alice Capsey still in their mid-tables and yet to hit their stride, but that could be an area the Proteas pinpoint.
But to find out, they’ll need to get past openers Amy Jones and Tammy Beaumont, as well as Knight and Silver Blount.
South Africa have their own winners in Wolvaard, the Englishman, hot-blooded all-rounder Kapp (the “most passionate” cricketer he has ever played with, says former England player Tash Farrant), left-arm spinner Nonkhululeko Mlaba and junior punisher De Klerk.
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Nadine de Klerk’s incredible innings of 84 off just 54 balls gave South Africa an unlikely three-wicket win over India.
De Klerk led her team to a come-from-behind victory against India with a bold performance of 84 not out off 54 balls from the No. 8 spot, while she repeated her devastating feat against Bangladesh with 37 not out off 29 balls.
That’s when de Klerk coped with the pressure. Will England still do that?
Watch the World Cup semi-final between England and South Africa live on Sky Sports Cricket from 9am (9.30am first pitch) on Wednesday. Stream cricket, darts, soccer and more now with no contract.
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